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Poca, West Virginia
Poca High School
Poca High School
Location of Poca in Putnam County, West Virginia.
Location of Poca in Putnam County, West Virginia.
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Putnam
Area
 • Total 0.75 sq mi (1.95 km2)
 • Land 0.59 sq mi (1.52 km2)
 • Water 0.17 sq mi (0.43 km2)
Elevation
587 ft (179 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 875
 • Estimate 
(2021)
873
 • Density 1,659.28/sq mi (640.75/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
25159
Area code(s) 304
FIPS code 54-64516
GNIS feature ID 1555379

Poca is a town in Putnam County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 875 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area. The town derives its name from the Pocatalico River.

Geography

Poca is located at 38°27′41″N 81°48′56″W / 38.46139°N 81.81556°W / 38.46139; -81.81556 (38.461343, -81.815592). It is sited at the confluence of the Kanawha River and the Pocatalico River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.76 square miles (1.97 km2), of which 0.59 square miles (1.53 km2) is land and 0.17 square miles (0.44 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 145
1890 284 95.9%
1960 607
1970 772 27.2%
1980 1,142 47.9%
1990 1,124 −1.6%
2000 1,013 −9.9%
2010 974 −3.8%
2020 875 −10.2%
2021 (est.) 873 −10.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 974 people, 395 households, and 290 families living in the town. The population density was 1,650.8 inhabitants per square mile (637.4/km2). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 703.4 per square mile (271.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.7% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Asian, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 395 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.6% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the town was 42.9 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

Culture

The town's high school is somewhat famous for having the mascot "Dots," Poca Dots. Poca High School recently was selected by ESPN as having the number one sports nickname in the country.

Poca High School's show choir, "Visual Volume," is a 14-time WVMEA state show choir champion. Director Joseph Kincaid, renowned for his title as "Best Dressed Director" in WVMEA competitive show choir, is a National Board certified teacher. As of 2018, Leonard Varner was the director. In Spring of 2020, Leonard Varner went missing after allegations. The new show choir director is Michael Rose as of Fall 2020.

Poca is also memorialized in a series of art stamps and related stories created by West Virginian artist Ben Mahmoud. The series of stamps feature humorous fictional stories sensationalized around bits and pieces of actual history.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Poca (Virginia Occidental) para niños

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