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Terra Alta, West Virginia
Terra Alta Bank
Terra Alta Bank
Location of Terra Alta in Preston County, West Virginia.
Location of Terra Alta in Preston County, West Virginia.
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Preston
Area
 • Total 1.19 sq mi (3.07 km2)
 • Land 1.19 sq mi (3.07 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
2,582 ft (787 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,415
 • Estimate 
(2021)
1,498
 • Density 1,265.82/sq mi (488.64/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
26764
Area code(s) 304
FIPS code 54-79708
GNIS feature ID 1547983
Website https://terraalta.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Terra Alta is a town in eastern Preston County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,415 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Morgantown metropolitan area.

History

James S. Lakin House
James S. Lakin House

Terra Alta was originally called Portland, and under the latter name had its start in the 1850s. The present name Terra Alta is derived from Latin meaning "high land". According to the 1876 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad map, Terra Alta had a railroad station called Cranberry Station.

The town is home to the James S. Lakin House and Terra Alta Bank, each listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Terra Alta is located at 39°26′40″N 79°32′38″W / 39.44444°N 79.54389°W / 39.44444; -79.54389 (39.444343, -79.544002).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.19 square miles (3.08 km2), all land.

Climate

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Terra Alta has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Climate data for Terra Alta, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 72
(22)
74
(23)
81
(27)
88
(31)
89
(32)
91
(33)
95
(35)
94
(34)
93
(34)
84
(29)
78
(26)
74
(23)
95
(35)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 59.0
(15.0)
60.7
(15.9)
69.3
(20.7)
78.4
(25.8)
81.7
(27.6)
83.3
(28.5)
85.2
(29.6)
84.4
(29.1)
82.8
(28.2)
76.8
(24.9)
70.4
(21.3)
60.6
(15.9)
86.3
(30.2)
Average high °F (°C) 34.0
(1.1)
37.5
(3.1)
46.2
(7.9)
58.9
(14.9)
66.5
(19.2)
73.2
(22.9)
76.7
(24.8)
75.7
(24.3)
70.2
(21.2)
59.8
(15.4)
48.6
(9.2)
38.5
(3.6)
57.1
(13.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 25.8
(−3.4)
28.5
(−1.9)
36.2
(2.3)
47.7
(8.7)
56.3
(13.5)
63.5
(17.5)
67.4
(19.7)
66.3
(19.1)
60.5
(15.8)
49.9
(9.9)
39.4
(4.1)
30.6
(−0.8)
47.7
(8.7)
Average low °F (°C) 17.7
(−7.9)
19.5
(−6.9)
26.2
(−3.2)
36.5
(2.5)
46.1
(7.8)
53.9
(12.2)
58.1
(14.5)
56.8
(13.8)
50.7
(10.4)
39.9
(4.4)
30.3
(−0.9)
22.7
(−5.2)
38.2
(3.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −1.7
(−18.7)
1.0
(−17.2)
7.6
(−13.6)
21.4
(−5.9)
33.2
(0.7)
42.6
(5.9)
48.6
(9.2)
48.3
(9.1)
38.7
(3.7)
27.3
(−2.6)
15.5
(−9.2)
5.7
(−14.6)
−4.9
(−20.5)
Record low °F (°C) −31
(−35)
−26
(−32)
−9
(−23)
8
(−13)
17
(−8)
27
(−3)
35
(2)
34
(1)
18
(−8)
8
(−13)
−8
(−22)
−22
(−30)
−31
(−35)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.70
(119)
4.28
(109)
5.01
(127)
5.00
(127)
5.36
(136)
5.55
(141)
5.81
(148)
4.85
(123)
4.13
(105)
3.83
(97)
3.85
(98)
4.64
(118)
57.01
(1,448)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 44.1
(112)
36.3
(92)
28.2
(72)
12.1
(31)
0.1
(0.25)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
3.7
(9.4)
15.7
(40)
30.9
(78)
171.1
(435)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 21.5 18.2 17.8 16.6 16.5 14.9 14.0 13.4 11.6 12.5 15.3 19.9 192.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 15.9 13.3 9.8 4.3 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 5.5 12.2 62.4
Source: NOAA

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 443
1900 616 39.1%
1910 1,126 82.8%
1920 1,261 12.0%
1930 1,474 16.9%
1940 1,471 −0.2%
1950 1,649 12.1%
1960 1,504 −8.8%
1970 1,474 −2.0%
1980 1,946 32.0%
1990 1,713 −12.0%
2000 1,456 −15.0%
2010 1,477 1.4%
2020 1,415 −4.2%
2021 (est.) 1,498 1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,477 people, 610 households, and 394 families living in the town. The population density was 1,241.2 inhabitants per square mile (479.2/km2). There were 700 housing units at an average density of 588.2 units per square mile (227.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.0% White, 0.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 610 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the town was 38.8 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 27.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

See also

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

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