Fort Gay, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Fort Gay is a town in Wayne County
, West Virginia
, along the Tug Fork and Big Sandy Rivers. The town adjoins Louisa, Kentucky
. The population was 819 at the 2000 census. The estimate as of 2009 was 801.
The Fort Gay community traces back to 1789, when 11 people established a settlement at the junction of the Tug and Big Sandy rivers, across from what is now Louisa. In 1875, it was chartered as Cassville; though it was simultaneously known as Fort Gay. In 1932, the town's name was officially changed to Fort Gay. There is no evidence as to why the name was changed, there are several prevalent theories: that either the railroad company or post office did not want two Cassvilles on the same route/state (there is another Cassville, West Virginia
), or that a Civil War nurse named Gay became synonymous with the town.
In 2010, Fort Gay was in the news when a resident of the town had his Xbox Live
account suspended for writing "fort gay WV" as his location, as Microsoft
has language policies that prohibit references to homosexuality
. Microsoft customer service representatives refused to believe that Fort Gay existed, and it took an appeal from Mayor David Thompson and media coverage for the issue to be corrected. the event caused anger in the town.
Fort Gay is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area
. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649.
The Norfolk Southern Railway
's Kenova District goes through the western edge of town.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²). 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (7.06%) is water.
of 2000, there were 819 people, 345 households, and 240 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,034.5 inhabitants per square mile (400.3/km²). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 497.7 per square mile (192.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.66% White, 0.49% Asian, and 0.85% from two or more races.
There were 345 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples
living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $14,565, and the median income for a family was $20,882. Males had a median income of $29,063 versus $16,442 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $9,125. About 33.9% of families and 37.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.1% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.
Wayne County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 42,903 people, 17,239 households, and 12,653 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile . There were 19,107 housing units at an average density of 38 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 Tug Fork and Big Sandy Rivers. The town adjoins Louisa, Kentucky
Louisa, Kentucky
Louisa is a city in Lawrence County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,018 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lawrence County. The Levisa Fork River and Tug Fork River join at Louisa to form the Big Sandy River...
. The population was 819 at the 2000 census. The estimate as of 2009 was 801.
The Fort Gay community traces back to 1789, when 11 people established a settlement at the junction of the Tug and Big Sandy rivers, across from what is now Louisa. In 1875, it was chartered as Cassville; though it was simultaneously known as Fort Gay. In 1932, the town's name was officially changed to Fort Gay. There is no evidence as to why the name was changed, there are several prevalent theories: that either the railroad company or post office did not want two Cassvilles on the same route/state (there is another Cassville, West Virginia
Cassville, West Virginia
Cassville is a census-designated place in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 701 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Morgantown, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area...
), or that a Civil War nurse named Gay became synonymous with the town.
In 2010, Fort Gay was in the news when a resident of the town had his Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
account suspended for writing "fort gay WV" as his location, as Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
has language policies that prohibit references to homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Microsoft customer service representatives refused to believe that Fort Gay existed, and it took an appeal from Mayor David Thompson and media coverage for the issue to be corrected. the event caused anger in the town.
Fort Gay is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Huntington-Ashland-Ironton metropolitan area is a United States metropolitan area that includes five counties in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649. A July 1, 2009 estimate placed the population at 285,624. The MSA is nestled along the...
. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649.
The Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
's Kenova District goes through the western edge of town.
Geography
Fort Gay is located at 38°7′3"N 82°35′41"W (38.117528, -82.594620).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 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²). 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (7.06%) 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...
of 2000, there were 819 people, 345 households, and 240 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 1,034.5 inhabitants per square mile (400.3/km²). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 497.7 per square mile (192.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.66% White, 0.49% Asian, and 0.85% from two or more races.
There were 345 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% 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, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $14,565, and the median income for a family was $20,882. Males had a median income of $29,063 versus $16,442 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 $9,125. About 33.9% of families and 37.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.1% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.