Smithers, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smithers, West Virginia
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Michigan Avenue in Smithers
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Location of Smithers in Fayette County, West Virginia.
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| Counties | Fayette, Kanawha |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.65 sq mi (4.26 km2) |
| • Land | 1.45 sq mi (3.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2) |
| Elevation | 633 ft (193 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 751 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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737 |
| • Density | 506.91/sq mi (195.71/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
25186
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| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-74740 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1547007 |
Smithers is a city in Fayette and Kanawha counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located along the Kanawha River, it lies almost entirely in Fayette County. The population was 751 at the 2020 census. The city most likely takes its name from Smithers Creek. The small river city is noted for having a rich cultural history related to both its coal mining and Italian-American heritages.
Geography
Smithers is located at 38°10′39″N 81°18′23″W / 38.17750°N 81.30639°W (38.177389, -81.306269), along the Kanawha River at the mouth of Smithers Creek.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.50 square miles (1.29 km2), all land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 2,232 | — | |
| 1950 | 2,208 | −1.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,696 | −23.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,020 | 19.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,482 | −26.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,162 | −21.6% | |
| 2000 | 904 | −22.2% | |
| 2010 | 813 | −10.1% | |
| 2020 | 751 | −7.6% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 737 | −9.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 813 people, 405 households, and 216 families living in the city. The population density was 1,626.0 inhabitants per square mile (627.8/km2). There were 473 housing units at an average density of 946.0 units per square mile (365.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.8% White, 8.0% African American, 0.6% Native American, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.
There were 405 households, of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.1% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.7% were non-families. 41.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.67.
The median age in the city was 49.8 years. 17.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 25.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.0% male and 54.0% female.
Education
Smithers had a combined middle school and high school, Valley High School, serving grades 6–12. The school closed at the end of the 2018–19 school year. The campus is now used as Valley PK-8.
Notable people
- Bertis Downs IV – legal and managerial representative of the musical group R.E.M.
- Gino Marchetti – former NFL defensive end, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
See also
In Spanish: Smithers (Virginia Occidental) para niños
