Wellsburg, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wellsburg, West Virginia
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Wellsburg in 2008
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Location of Wellsburg in Brooke County, West Virginia.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | West Virginia | ||
| County | Brooke | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1.33 sq mi (3.44 km2) | ||
| • Land | 0.97 sq mi (2.51 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.36 sq mi (0.93 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 676 ft (206 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,455 | ||
| • Estimate
(2021)
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2,401 | ||
| • Density | 2,608.25/sq mi (1,006.97/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
26070
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| Area code(s) | 304 | ||
| FIPS code | 54-85324 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1555938 | ||
Wellsburg is a city in West Virginia, United States. It is the main city of Brooke County. In 2020, about 2,455 people lived there. Wellsburg is part of the larger Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area. The city's economy includes businesses that handle phone sales and factories that make metal and plastic products.
Contents
History of Wellsburg
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The town of Wellsburg was first planned in 1790. Its post office opened on September 1, 1870.
Early Settlers and Town Naming
In 1772, three brothers named Friend, Israel, and Jonathan Cox claimed land in the area. They used a method called "tomahawk rights" to mark their claims. This meant they would mark trees to show they wanted to own the land. They claimed about 1,200 acres (4.9 km2).
In 1788, a man named Charles Prather bought 481 acres (1.95 km2) from the Cox family. In 1791, Prather asked Ohio County to make his new town official. He named it Charlestown, after himself.
The name Charlestown was used until 1816. It was changed to Wellsburg to avoid confusion with another town called Charles Town, West Virginia. The new name honored Alexander Wells. He was Charles Prather's son-in-law and built the first large flour warehouse in the eastern part of the state. Later, in 1890, the nearby areas of Midway and Lazearville became part of Wellsburg.
Famous People and Discoveries
Wellsburg was home to Patrick Gass. He was the last person alive from the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. He also wrote a book about their journey.
Another important person from Wellsburg was Joseph Doddridge. He wrote a book called Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars.
In 1832, a special kind of apple tree was found just east of Wellsburg. It was called the Grimes Golden apple tree. The first factory in Western Virginia that made glass was built in Wellsburg in 1813.
Historic Places in Wellsburg
Wellsburg has several places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Some of these include Miller's Tavern and Wellsburg Wharf. The entire Wellsburg Historic District was added to the list in 1982.
Geography of Wellsburg
Wellsburg is located at 40°16′39″N 80°36′34″W / 40.27750°N 80.60944°W. It sits right along the Ohio River.
The city covers a total area of about 1.34 square miles (3.47 km2). Of this, about 0.98 square miles (2.54 km2) is land. The remaining 0.36 square miles (0.93 km2) is water, mostly from the Ohio River.
Population of Wellsburg
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,366 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,815 | 32.9% | |
| 1890 | 2,235 | 23.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,588 | 15.8% | |
| 1910 | 4,189 | 61.9% | |
| 1920 | 4,918 | 17.4% | |
| 1930 | 6,398 | 30.1% | |
| 1940 | 6,255 | −2.2% | |
| 1950 | 5,787 | −7.5% | |
| 1960 | 5,514 | −4.7% | |
| 1970 | 4,600 | −16.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,963 | −13.8% | |
| 1990 | 3,385 | −14.6% | |
| 2000 | 2,891 | −14.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,805 | −3.0% | |
| 2020 | 2,455 | −12.5% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 2,401 | −14.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 2,805 people living in Wellsburg. There were 1,312 homes, with 767 of them being families. The city had about 2,862 people per square mile (1,105 per km2).
Most people in Wellsburg were White (96.3%). A small number were African American (1.9%) or from other backgrounds. About 1.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Wellsburg was 48.3 years old. About 17.6% of residents were under 18. About 22.7% were 65 years or older. There were slightly more females (53.0%) than males (47.0%) living in the city.
Education in Wellsburg
Wellsburg is part of the Brooke County Schools system. The main high school for the county is Brooke High School.
Wellsburg has one primary school for younger students. It also has one middle school. The county's main high school and a special learning center are located nearby. The Brooke County Public Library is also found in Wellsburg.
Notable People from Wellsburg
- Russ Craft (1919–2009) - An American football player who played in the NFL.
- Glenn Davis (athlete) (1934–2009) - An American Olympic Gold medalist in hurdling and sprinting. He also played American football.
- Philip Doddridge (1773–1832) - A politician who supported the western part of Virginia (now West Virginia). Doddridge County is named after him.
- Isaac H. Duval (1824–1902) - An American Civil War General and a member of Congress.
- Patrick Gass (1771–1870) - A member of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition.
- Maj. Gen. William Campbell Langfitt (1860–1934) - A high-ranking military officer.
- Joe Pettini (born 1955) - A Major League Baseball player and coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.
See also
In Spanish: Wellsburg (Virginia Occidental) para niños
