Clendenin, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Clendenin is a town in Kanawha County
, West Virginia
along the Elk River
. The population was 1,227 at the 2010 census. Clendenin was incorporated in 1904 and named for the Clendenins, an early pioneer family in the Kanawha River Valley
. Charleston, WV retains the namesake of George Clendenin's father, Charles Clendenin. George Clendenin owned a large portion of present-day Charleston and settled at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers with several other families.
The first petrochemical plant in the world was built in Clendenin in 1920. This plant was the original Union Carbide Corporation facility. Other chief economic staples included (and to some extent still include) timber, coal, gas, oil, and salt.
In the 1960s, the hillside on the south side of town featured a sign reading, "Clendenin's Beauty is Everyone's Duty."
The current mayor of Clendenin is Mayor Robert Ore. Town elections (including the office of mayor and city council) occur every two years. Recent efforts have been made by the Business and Industrial Development Corporation (headquartered in Charleston) to enhance economic and cultural development in the town.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²). 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (4.32%) is water.
data from the 2009 American Community Survey, there were 1,176 people, 475 households, and 326 families residing in the town. The population density
was 838.8 inhabitants per square mile (324.0/km²). There were 525 housing units at an average density of 394.6 per square mile (152.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.01% White, 0.09% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.18% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,000, and the median income for a family was $38,021. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $18,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,587. About 9.7% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.
Kanawha County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families residing in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile . There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
along the Elk River
Elk River (West Virginia)
The Elk River is a tributary of the Kanawha River, long, in central West Virginia in the United States. Via the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.-Course:...
. The population was 1,227 at the 2010 census. Clendenin was incorporated in 1904 and named for the Clendenins, an early pioneer family in the Kanawha River Valley
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
. Charleston, WV retains the namesake of George Clendenin's father, Charles Clendenin. George Clendenin owned a large portion of present-day Charleston and settled at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers with several other families.
The first petrochemical plant in the world was built in Clendenin in 1920. This plant was the original Union Carbide Corporation facility. Other chief economic staples included (and to some extent still include) timber, coal, gas, oil, and salt.
In the 1960s, the hillside on the south side of town featured a sign reading, "Clendenin's Beauty is Everyone's Duty."
The current mayor of Clendenin is Mayor Robert Ore. Town elections (including the office of mayor and city council) occur every two years. Recent efforts have been made by the Business and Industrial Development Corporation (headquartered in Charleston) to enhance economic and cultural development in the town.
Notable Natives
- Billy Joe MantoothBilly Joe MantoothBilly Joe Mantooth was an American football linebacker from Clendenin, West Virginia, known as "The Man-Eater" during his playing days. He started his career at Ferrum College; after being honored as an NJCAA All-American in 1970, he transferred to West Virginia University...
-1970 All American at Ferrum College, transferred to West Virginia University in 1971, Also played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Oilers. - Dave StephensonDave StephensonDave Stephenson is a former guard in the National Football League. He was drafted in the fifteenth round of the 1950 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and played that season with the team. The next five seasons he would play with the Green Bay Packers....
-Played in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers.
Geography
Clendenin is located at 38°29′19"N 81°20′56"W (38.488638, -81.348812).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²). 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (4.32%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
data from the 2009 American Community Survey, there were 1,176 people, 475 households, and 326 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 838.8 inhabitants per square mile (324.0/km²). There were 525 housing units at an average density of 394.6 per square mile (152.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.01% White, 0.09% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.18% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,000, and the median income for a family was $38,021. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $18,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,587. About 9.7% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.