Gauley Bridge, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Gauley Bridge is a town in Fayette County
, West Virginia
, United States
. The population was 738 at the 2000 census. The Kanawha River
is formed at Gauley Bridge by the confluence of the New and Gauley
Rivers. Two miles to the southeast of Gauley Bridge, in Glen Ferris, West Virginia
, is Kanawha Falls, a popular stopping point on Midland Trail Scenic Highway
.
Gauley Bridge was close to the site of the Hawk's Nest incident
, in which hundreds of lives were lost in the 1920s and 1930s.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2). 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (2.44%) is water.
of 2000, there were 738 people, 325 households, and 205 families residing in the town. The population density
was 458.6 inhabitants per square mile (177.0/km2). There were 374 housing units at an average density of 232.4 per square mile (89.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.43% White, 0.68% African American, 0.68% from other races
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 325 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples
living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,500, and the median income for a family was $25,987. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $11,820. About 26.7% of families and 33.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.7% of those under age 18 and 24.7% of those age 65 or over.
, WV 16,and WV 39 all intersect in Downtown Gauley Bridge. The town of Gauley Bridge is well-known locally as a speed trap, and ensnares many travelers passing through the area.
Fayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 738 at the 2000 census. The Kanawha River
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...
is formed at Gauley Bridge by the confluence of the New and Gauley
Gauley River
The Gauley River is a river in West Virginia. It merges with the New River to form the Kanawha River, a tributary of the Ohio River. It is one of the most popular advanced whitewater runs in the Eastern United States and is the chief feature of the Gauley River National Recreation Area.-Headwaters...
Rivers. Two miles to the southeast of Gauley Bridge, in Glen Ferris, West Virginia
Glen Ferris, West Virginia
Glen Ferris is an unincorporated census-designated place on the western bank of the Kanawha River in Fayette County, West Virginia. It is situated approximately one mile south of the town of Gauley Bridge. The sole highway linking Glen Ferris to the area is U.S. Route 60, known also as the Midland...
, is Kanawha Falls, a popular stopping point on Midland Trail Scenic Highway
Midland Trail (West Virginia)
The Midland Trail is a National Scenic Byway which carries U.S. Highway 60 through a portion of Southern West Virginia between Charleston and Sam Black Church...
.
Gauley Bridge was close to the site of the Hawk's Nest incident
Hawk's Nest incident
The Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster involved injuries and deaths as the result of the construction of the Hawks Nest Tunnel near Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, as part of a hydroelectric project...
, in which hundreds of lives were lost in the 1920s and 1930s.
Geography
Gauley Bridge is located at 38.167815°N 81.197079°W (38.167815, -81.197079).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 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2). 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (2.44%) 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 738 people, 325 households, and 205 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 458.6 inhabitants per square mile (177.0/km2). There were 374 housing units at an average density of 232.4 per square mile (89.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.43% White, 0.68% African American, 0.68% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 325 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% 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, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,500, and the median income for a family was $25,987. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $19,688 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 $11,820. About 26.7% of families and 33.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.7% of those under age 18 and 24.7% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
U.S. Route 60U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
, WV 16,and WV 39 all intersect in Downtown Gauley Bridge. The town of Gauley Bridge is well-known locally as a speed trap, and ensnares many travelers passing through the area.