Sissonville, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sissonville, West Virginia
|
|
|---|---|
|
Census-designated place (CDP)
|
|
Location in Kanawha County and state of West Virginia.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Kanawha |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.8 sq mi (33.2 km2) |
| • Land | 12.8 sq mi (33.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 623 ft (190 m) |
| Population
(2010)
|
|
| • Total | 4,028 |
| • Density | 314.7/sq mi (121.33/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
25312, 25320, 25360
|
| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-74356 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1546843 |
Sissonville is a community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is located along the Pocatalico River. In 2010, about 4,028 people lived here. Sissonville is only about 14 miles from Charleston, which is the capital city of West Virginia.
Contents
History of Sissonville
Sissonville got its name from an early settler named John Sisson. He owned the land where the community first began. The first known settler in this area, north of what is now Charleston, was a man named Johnson. He built a log cabin in 1802. Later, he built a grist mill, which is a mill for grinding grain.
Communities in Sissonville Area
The Sissonville area includes several smaller communities. These are Cicerone, Pocatalico, Millertown, and Guthrie. Even smaller places like Kanawha Two Mile and Derrick's Creek are also part of this larger area. The community stretches from Charleston's city limits in the south. It goes north to the Jackson County line. To the east, it reaches Roane County, and to the west, Putnam County.
Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department
The Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department helps a large area. It covers over 125 square miles. This important department was started in May 1961.
Dealing with Flooding Challenges
Sissonville has a history of dealing with floods. The community faced three major floods in 1998, 1999, and 2000. The flood in 2000 was very serious. It even caused a local school, Bonham Elementary, to close down. The school was located near Kanawha Two Mile, an area often affected by floods.
Student Activism at Sissonville High
In 2001, a student from Sissonville High School made national news. She was involved in activism against the bombing of Afghanistan. She was suspended for handing out flyers for a club. This was against school rules because she did not get permission first.
Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion
On December 11, 2012, a natural gas pipeline exploded. This happened near Route 21 and Derricks Creek Road. The explosion caused a big fire. Several homes were destroyed. A large part of Interstate 77 was also damaged. Firefighters rescued one person who was hiding behind her home. Even with all the damage, no one was seriously hurt, and no lives were lost.
Geography of Sissonville
Sissonville is located at 38°30′17″N 81°38′43″W / 38.50472°N 81.64528°W. The Sissonville area, as defined for census purposes, covers about 12.8 square miles (33.2 km2). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2), is water.
Many people think "Sissonville" includes all the land north of Charleston. However, the area is actually made up of four main communities. These are Guthrie, Pocatalico, Millertown, and Sissonville itself.
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 4,399 | — | |
| 2010 | 4,028 | −8.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 4,399 people living in Sissonville. There were 1,732 households. About 32.5% of these households had children under 18. Most people living in Sissonville were White (98.41%). A small number were African American (0.48%) or Native American (0.14%).
The average age of people in Sissonville in 2000 was 40 years old. About 22.2% of the population was under 18. About 15.1% were 65 years or older.
Economy and Jobs
The biggest employer in Sissonville is a company called Nippon Tokushu Tōgyō. In English, it's called Niterra. This company has a manufacturing plant near the Sissonville-Pocatalico Exit of Interstate 77. They employ over 400 full-time workers. They make spark plugs and oxygen sensors for cars.
Natural Gas Operations
There are also two natural gas compressor stations in the area. Columbia Gas operates one called the Lanham Compressor Station. Cabot Oil & Gas runs another one on Derrick's Creek Road.
Agricultural Center
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has a center here. It's called the Gus R. Douglass Agricultural Center. This facility has labs for animal health. It also has a team that helps with farm emergencies.
Education and Learning
Students in Sissonville attend local schools. There are two elementary schools: Sissonville Elementary and Virgil L. Flinn Elementary. There is also Sissonville Middle School and Sissonville High School.
The community also has a branch of the Kanawha County Public Library. It is located in the Pocatalico community.
Fire & Rescue Training
The Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department hosts a special school each year. It's called the Fire & Rescue School. It started in 2007. This school gives hands-on training to first responders. These are people who help in emergencies. It has become the largest public safety training event in West Virginia. In 2014, over 800 first responders from nine states attended.
Notable People from Sissonville
- David A. Faber - A United States federal judge. He graduated from Sissonville High School in 1960.
- Toby Harrah - A well-known baseball player and manager.
- Steve Harrison - A former member of the West Virginia State Senate and the West Virginia House of Delegates.
- Darrell Holmes - The current Clerk of the State Senate. He was also a member of the West Virginia State Senate and West Virginia House of Delegates.
- Charlotte Pritt - The current Chairman of the Mountain Party. She was a candidate for Governor in 1996. She also served in the West Virginia State Senate and West Virginia House of Delegates.
- Walton Shepherd - A former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.
- Thomas K. Johnson - A founding member of the Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department. He served as Chief for over 35 years. The main fire station is named after him.
See also
In Spanish: Sissonville (Virginia Occidental) para niños
