Wellsburg, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Wellsburg is a city in and the county seat
of Brooke County
, West Virginia
, United States
. It is part of the Weirton
–Steubenville
, WV-OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The 2000 Census recorded a population of 2,891, down from a count of 3,385 in the 1990 Census. The diverse economy includes one paper mill, a glass gift outlet, several telemarketing facilities, and a factory that does metal fabrication plus plastics molding.
In 1772, the Cox brothers, Friend, Israel, and Jonathan, made tomahawk rights
claims totaling 1200 acres (4.9 km²) in the area now including Wellsburg. In March 1788, Charles Prather purchased 481 acres (1.9 km²) from the Cox heirs for $3,000. In 1791, Prather petitioned Ohio County to incorporate the town of Charlestown, Virginia, naming it after himself. The original name continued until 1816, when it was changed to Wellsburg, to avoid confusion with Charles Town, Jefferson County
. The new name was in honor of Charles Wells (1745-1815), Charles Prather’s son-in-law, builder of the first large flour warehouse in the east. Late in 1890, nearby Midway and Lazearville were annexed to Wellsburg.
Wellsburg was the home of Patrick Gass
, the last surviving member of the Lewis and Clark expedition and author of a memoir of the famous journey. Here also was the home of Joseph Doddridge, author of Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars. In 1832, the original Grimes Golden
apple tree was found just east of Wellsburg. The first glass factory in Western Virginia was built at Wellsburg in 1813.
Wellsburg has a number of entries
on the National Register of Historic Places
. The most notable are Miller's Tavern
and Wellsburg Wharf
. The Wellsburg Historic District
was listed in 1982.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (33.09%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,891 people, 1,361 households, and 815 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,104.0 people per square mile (1,200.2/km²). There were 1,493 housing units at an average density of 1,603.0 per square mile (619.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.68% White, 2.01% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.03% from other races
, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 1,361 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,298, and the median income for a family was $36,750. Males had a median income of $29,808 versus $18,707 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,498. About 11.4% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
, part of Brooke County Schools. Wellsburg has nine primary schools and two middle schools, with the county’s consolidated high school nearby. There are also a parochial school and an alternative learning center. Brooke County Public Library is located in Wellsburg.
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 Brooke County
Brooke County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,447 people, 10,396 households, and 7,152 families residing in the county. The population density was 286 people per square mile . There were 11,150 housing units at an average density of 126 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...
. It is part of the Weirton
Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton is a city located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, United States. Most of the city is in Hancock County, with the remainder in Brooke County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,411...
–Steubenville
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, WV-OH
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Weirton-Steubenville metropolitan area
The Weirton-Steubenville 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 cities of Weirton, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio...
. The 2000 Census recorded a population of 2,891, down from a count of 3,385 in the 1990 Census. The diverse economy includes one paper mill, a glass gift outlet, several telemarketing facilities, and a factory that does metal fabrication plus plastics molding.
History
The town was laid out in 1790, and its post office was opened on September 1, 1870.In 1772, the Cox brothers, Friend, Israel, and Jonathan, made tomahawk rights
Tomahawk rights
Tomahawk right was a means by which settlers during early period of frontier settlements in the United States would claim title to a tract of land...
claims totaling 1200 acres (4.9 km²) in the area now including Wellsburg. In March 1788, Charles Prather purchased 481 acres (1.9 km²) from the Cox heirs for $3,000. In 1791, Prather petitioned Ohio County to incorporate the town of Charlestown, Virginia, naming it after himself. The original name continued until 1816, when it was changed to Wellsburg, to avoid confusion with Charles Town, Jefferson County
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
. The new name was in honor of Charles Wells (1745-1815), Charles Prather’s son-in-law, builder of the first large flour warehouse in the east. Late in 1890, nearby Midway and Lazearville were annexed to Wellsburg.
Wellsburg was the home of Patrick Gass
Patrick Gass
Patrick Gass served as sergeant in the Lewis and Clark Expedition . He was important to the expedition because of his service as carpenter and he published the first journal of the expedition in 1807, seven years before the first publication based on Lewis and Clark's journals.-Early life:Gass...
, the last surviving member of the Lewis and Clark expedition and author of a memoir of the famous journey. Here also was the home of Joseph Doddridge, author of Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars. In 1832, the original Grimes Golden
Grimes Golden
Grimes Golden is a cultivar of apple originated in Wellsburg, West Virginia in 1832 on the farm of Thomas Grimes in the present day Pittsburgh Tri-State. It could be the origin of the famous Golden Delicious....
apple tree was found just east of Wellsburg. The first glass factory in Western Virginia was built at Wellsburg in 1813.
Wellsburg has a number of entries
National Register of Historic Places listings in Brooke County, West Virginia
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Brooke County, West Virginia.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Brooke County, West Virginia, United States...
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...
. The most notable are Miller's Tavern
Miller's Tavern
Miller's Tavern, now known as Brooke County Historical Museum, is a historic inn and tavern located at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. It was built in 1797, and is a two story, rectangular brick building with a hipped roof. It sits on a sandstone foundation and lintels. It is one of the...
and Wellsburg Wharf
Wellsburg Wharf
Wellsburg Wharf is a historic wharf located at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. The public wharf was built in 1836. The site consists of remains of the wharf and the foundations of two warehouses. The wharf remains consist of cobblestones along the riverbank. One of the warehouses was...
. The Wellsburg Historic District
Wellsburg Historic District
Wellsburg Historic District is a national historic district located at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. It encompasses 693 contributing buildings in the central business district and surrounding residential areas of Wellsburg...
was listed in 1982.
Geography
Wellsburg is located at 40°16′39"N 80°36′34"W (40.277370, -80.609349), along the Ohio RiverOhio 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...
.
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 0.9 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (33.09%) 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 2,891 people, 1,361 households, and 815 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 3,104.0 people per square mile (1,200.2/km²). There were 1,493 housing units at an average density of 1,603.0 per square mile (619.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.68% White, 2.01% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.03% 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 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 1,361 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,298, and the median income for a family was $36,750. Males had a median income of $29,808 versus $18,707 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 $18,498. About 11.4% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The county high school is Brooke High SchoolBrooke High School
Brooke High School is a public high school located in Wellsburg, West Virginia. It is the only public high school in Brooke County. The school teaches grades 9-12.-History:...
, part of Brooke County Schools. Wellsburg has nine primary schools and two middle schools, with the county’s consolidated high school nearby. There are also a parochial school and an alternative learning center. Brooke County Public Library is located in Wellsburg.
Notable residents
- Russ CraftRuss CraftWilliam Russell Craft was an American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at the University of Alabama and was drafted in the fifteenth round of the 1943 NFL Draft...
- American football defensive back in the NFL - Glenn Davis - Olympic hurdler
- Isaac H. DuvalIsaac H. DuvalIsaac Harding Duval was an adventurer and businessman prior to becoming a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a postbellum U.S. Representative from West Virginia in the 41st United States Congress.-Early life and career:Duval was born in Wellsburg, West...
(1824-1902) - American Civil War General and Congressman - Patrick GassPatrick GassPatrick Gass served as sergeant in the Lewis and Clark Expedition . He was important to the expedition because of his service as carpenter and he published the first journal of the expedition in 1807, seven years before the first publication based on Lewis and Clark's journals.-Early life:Gass...
- Member of the Lewis and Clark expedition - Joe PettiniJoe PettiniJoseph Paul "Joe" Pettini is a former Major League Baseball player and a current major league bench coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. Joe and his family now reside in Bethany, West Virginia....
- Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, and coach for the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to... - Maj. Gen. William Campbell LangfittWilliam Campbell LangfittWilliam Campbell Langfitt was a Major General in the United States Army.-Biography:...