McMechen, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
McMechen is a city in Marshall County
, West Virginia
, along the Ohio River
. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 1,937 at the 2000 census.
.
The McMechen Lockmaster Houses on the Ohio River
were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1992.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.2 km²), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (30.95%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,937 people, 865 households, and 559 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,352.4 people per square mile (1,289.4/km²). There were 953 housing units at an average density of 1,649.4 per square mile (634.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.55% White, 0.36% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.15% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 865 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples
living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,179, and the median income for a family was $33,080. Males had a median income of $27,357 versus $16,862 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,935. About 15.6% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.1% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
The city is home to Patrick Tribett, whose mugshot became an internet phenomenon
on Fark
and The Smoking Gun
after being arrested repeatedly for huffing gold paint.
McMechen is also the hometown of award winning singer/songwriter Craig J Martin. A former Mercury/Polygram recording artist and composer of songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Western Flyer, Clinton Gregory, Rod Stewart, Cledus T Judd, George Jones and others. Close friends with the Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash families. Martin is one of only two writers ever to have the same song nominated two years in a row for CMA "Song of the year" Category with the song "Don't Take The Girl" By Tim McGraw.
Marshall County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,519 people, 14,207 households, and 10,101 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 15,814 housing units at an average density of 52 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 Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Wheeling metropolitan area
The Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and one in Ohio, anchored by the city of Wheeling...
. The population was 1,937 at the 2000 census.
History
McMechen is named after William McMechen (1724 - 1797) and his family, who settled on the land in the early 1770s. William's son, Benjamin McMechen (1777 - 1855), is the namesake of the neighboring city of BenwoodBenwood, West Virginia
Benwood is a city in Marshall County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,585 at the 2000 census.Benwood was chartered in 1853 and incorporated in 1895...
.
The McMechen Lockmaster Houses on the Ohio River
McMechen Lockmaster Houses on the Ohio River
McMechen Lockmaster Houses on the Ohio River, also known as the Ohio River Lock & Dam No. 13, are a set of two historic homes located at McMechen, Marshall County, West Virginia. They were built by the Army Corps of Engineers 1910, to house the lockmaster's family and engineer. They are set side...
were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1992.
Geography
McMechen is located at 39°59′14"N 80°43′53"W (39.987201, -80.731348).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 city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.2 km²), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (30.95%) 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 1,937 people, 865 households, and 559 families residing in the city. 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 3,352.4 people per square mile (1,289.4/km²). There were 953 housing units at an average density of 1,649.4 per square mile (634.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.55% White, 0.36% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.15% 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 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 865 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% 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, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,179, and the median income for a family was $33,080. Males had a median income of $27,357 versus $16,862 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 city was $14,935. About 15.6% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.1% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
The city is home to Patrick Tribett, whose mugshot became an internet phenomenon
Meme
A meme is "an idea, behaviour or style that spreads from person to person within a culture."A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols or practices, which can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena...
on Fark
Fark
Fark is a community website created by Drew Curtis that allows members to comment on a daily batch of news articles and other items from various websites. As of June 2009, the site boasts approximately four million unique visitors per month, which puts it among the top 100 English language websites...
and The Smoking Gun
The Smoking Gun
The Smoking Gun is a website that posts legal documents, arrest records, and police mugshots on a daily basis. The intent is to bring to the public light information that is damning, shocking, outrageous, or amazing, yet also somewhat obscure or unreported by more mainstream media sources...
after being arrested repeatedly for huffing gold paint.
McMechen is also the hometown of award winning singer/songwriter Craig J Martin. A former Mercury/Polygram recording artist and composer of songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Western Flyer, Clinton Gregory, Rod Stewart, Cledus T Judd, George Jones and others. Close friends with the Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash families. Martin is one of only two writers ever to have the same song nominated two years in a row for CMA "Song of the year" Category with the song "Don't Take The Girl" By Tim McGraw.