Spencer, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Spencer is a city in Roane County
, West Virginia
, United States
. The population was 2,352 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Roane County
. Spencer is the home of the annual West Virginia Black Walnut Festival. Points of interest include Charles Fork Lake, Chrystal Water and Power Company-Spencer Water and Ice Company
, the McIntosh Mansion
, and the Robey Theatre
. Spencer is named for Spencer Roane
, an early judge on the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
.
flows through the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.67%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,352 people, 1,005 households, and 614 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,984.3 people per square mile (763.1/km²). There were 1,154 housing units at an average density of 973.6 per square mile (374.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.62% White, 0.13% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.04% from other races
, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
There were 1,005 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,773, and the median income for a family was $28,500. Males had a median income of $28,000 versus $16,452 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,976. About 24.9% of families and 31.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
Roane County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 6,161 households, and 4,479 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,360 housing units at an average density of 15 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 2,352 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Roane County
Roane County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 6,161 households, and 4,479 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,360 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
. Spencer is the home of the annual West Virginia Black Walnut Festival. Points of interest include Charles Fork Lake, Chrystal Water and Power Company-Spencer Water and Ice Company
Chrystal Water and Power Company-Spencer Water and Ice Company
Chrystal Water and Power Company-Spencer Water and Ice Company, also known as Spencer Ice Plant, is a historic power station and ice manufacturing plant located at Spencer, Roane County, West Virginia. It was built in 1903 and expanded in 1911. It is a one story, brick industrial building in the...
, the McIntosh Mansion
Albert S. Heck Mansion
Albert S. Heck Mansion, also known as the McIntosh Mansion, is a historic home located near Spencer, Roane County, West Virginia. It was built in 1925, and is two story, brick Neoclassical style mansion. It has 17 rooms, 6 baths and a full basement. It features a front portico with two story fluted...
, and the Robey Theatre
Robey Theatre
Robey Theatre is a historic theater located at Spencer, Roane County, West Virginia. It was built in 1911 and extensively remodeled in 1926. It is a three story, five bay wide Neoclassical / Italian Renaissance style building. The front facade features a large central entrance bay, with a ticket...
. Spencer is named for Spencer Roane
Spencer Roane
Spencer Roane was a Virginia lawyer and politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and as a judge of the state's highest court.Roane was born in Essex County, Virginia, on April 4, 1762...
, an early judge on the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
Supreme Court of Virginia
The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears appeals from the trial-level city and county Circuit Courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that go through the Court of Appeals of Virginia. It is one of...
.
Geography
Spencer is located at 38°48′6"N 81°21′6"W (38.801690, -81.351689). Spring CreekSpring Creek (Little Kanawha River)
Spring Creek is a tributary of the Little Kanawha River in western West Virginia in the United States. Via the Little Kanawha and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of in a rural region on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau...
flows through the city.
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 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.67%) 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 2,352 people, 1,005 households, and 614 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 1,984.3 people per square mile (763.1/km²). There were 1,154 housing units at an average density of 973.6 per square mile (374.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.62% White, 0.13% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.04% 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 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
There were 1,005 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,773, and the median income for a family was $28,500. Males had a median income of $28,000 versus $16,452 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 $12,976. About 24.9% of families and 31.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people from Spencer
- Ruby BradleyRuby BradleyColonel Ruby Bradley was one of the most decorated women in United States military history. She was a native of Spencer, West Virginia but lived in Falls Church, Virginia, for 50+ years....
, Colonel, US Army, 1907–2002 - Derek HardmanDerek HardmanDerek Hardman is an American football guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Eastern Kentucky....
, Offensive tackle for the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... - Debbie Hersman, Chairperson, National Transportation Safety BoardNational Transportation Safety BoardThe National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
, 2009-