Paw Paw, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Paw Paw is a town in Morgan County
, West Virginia
, United States
. The population was 524 at the 2000 census. The town is known for the nearby Paw Paw Tunnel
. Paw Paw was incorporated by the Circuit Court
of Morgan County on April 8, 1891 and named for the pawpaw
, a wild fruit which formerly grew in abundance throughout this region. Paw Paw is the westernmost incorporated community in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.3 km² (0.501932806170296 sq mi), all land.
of 2000, there were 524 people, 224 households, and 144 families residing in the town. The population density
was 999.4 inhabitants per square mile (389.1/km²). There were 249 housing units at an average density of 474.9 per square mile (184.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.50% White, 7.63% African American, 2.29% from other races
, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.44% of the population.
There were 224 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples
living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% 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 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,625, and the median income for a family was $30,250. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,377. About 14.9% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.
's many trips west, he usually took the Winchester-Cumberland Road which closely parallels today's CR 29/51 through Paw Paw. The Potomac River
, which embraces the old town in one of its bends, was navigated as early as 1750. Travelers heading west often crossed the gap in the mountains here, some settling to farm land along the river.
The town is the namesake of the Paw Paw Tunnel
, an important part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
. The tunnel and the nearby abandoned canal is now part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
.
Paul "Oz" Bach, founder and bass player for the popular musical group, "Spanky and Our Gang" was born in Paw Paw on June 24, 1939.
On February 9, 2000, West Virginia’s Interscholastic High School Boys Basketball scoring record was broken by Paw Paw’s Josh Delawder who scored 32 points in a 69-55 win against Mount Savage, Md. Former major league baseball player Paul Pop-ovich, who scored 2,660 points at Flemington High from 1955–58, held the mark for 52 years. Delawder finished with 2,965 points at the end of his career.
Morgan County, West Virginia
Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, it's population was 17,541. Its county seat is Berkeley Springs. The county is one of three in Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, 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 524 at the 2000 census. The town is known for the nearby Paw Paw Tunnel
Paw Paw Tunnel
The Paw Paw Tunnel is a long canal tunnel on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Allegany County, Maryland. Located near Paw Paw, West Virginia, it was built to bypass the Paw-Paw Bends, a six-mile stretch of the Potomac River containing five horseshoe bends...
. Paw Paw was incorporated by the Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
of Morgan County on April 8, 1891 and named for the pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Asimina triloba, the pawpaw, paw paw, paw-paw, or common pawpaw, is a species of Asimina in the same plant family as the custard-apple, cherimoya, sweetsop, ylang-ylang and soursop...
, a wild fruit which formerly grew in abundance throughout this region. Paw Paw is the westernmost incorporated community in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
Hagerstown Metropolitan Area
The Hagerstown-Martinsburg Metropolitan Area, officially designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget as Hagerstown-Martinsburg, Maryland-West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area , constitutes the primary cities of Hagerstown, Maryland, Martinsburg, West Virginia, and...
.
Geography
Paw Paw is located at 39°31′52"N 78°27′25"W (39.531140, -78.456920).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 1.3 km² (0.501932806170296 sq mi), all land.
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 524 people, 224 households, and 144 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 999.4 inhabitants per square mile (389.1/km²). There were 249 housing units at an average density of 474.9 per square mile (184.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.50% White, 7.63% African American, 2.29% 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 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.44% of the population.
There were 224 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% 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, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% 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 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,625, and the median income for a family was $30,250. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $23,125 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 $17,377. About 14.9% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.
History
On George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's many trips west, he usually took the Winchester-Cumberland Road which closely parallels today's CR 29/51 through Paw Paw. The Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, which embraces the old town in one of its bends, was navigated as early as 1750. Travelers heading west often crossed the gap in the mountains here, some settling to farm land along the river.
The town is the namesake of the Paw Paw Tunnel
Paw Paw Tunnel
The Paw Paw Tunnel is a long canal tunnel on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Allegany County, Maryland. Located near Paw Paw, West Virginia, it was built to bypass the Paw-Paw Bends, a six-mile stretch of the Potomac River containing five horseshoe bends...
, an important part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, abbreviated as the C&O Canal, and occasionally referred to as the "Grand Old Ditch," operated from 1831 until 1924 parallel to the Potomac River in Maryland from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C. The total length of the canal is about . The elevation change of...
. The tunnel and the nearby abandoned canal is now part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in the District of Columbia and the states of Maryland and West Virginia. The park was established as a National Monument in 1961 by President Dwight D...
.
Paul "Oz" Bach, founder and bass player for the popular musical group, "Spanky and Our Gang" was born in Paw Paw on June 24, 1939.
On February 9, 2000, West Virginia’s Interscholastic High School Boys Basketball scoring record was broken by Paw Paw’s Josh Delawder who scored 32 points in a 69-55 win against Mount Savage, Md. Former major league baseball player Paul Pop-ovich, who scored 2,660 points at Flemington High from 1955–58, held the mark for 52 years. Delawder finished with 2,965 points at the end of his career.