Blacksville is a

Incorporated Town An incorporated town is a town that is a municipal corporation. Canada Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government. United Kingdom United States An in ...

in Monongalia County,

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...

, United States. The population was 118 at the 2020 census. It is included in the

Morgantown, West Virginia Morgantown is a city in and the county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States, situated along the Monongahela River. The largest city in North-Central West Virginia, Morgantown is best known as th ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...

. The Town of Blacksville has a C
Census Class Code
which indicates an active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent. It also has a Functional Status Code of "A" which identifies an active government providing primary general-purpose functions.

History

The Town is named after David Black. A

civil engineer A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering – the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing ...

from

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

who came to the area in 1800.

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

was eventually was able to secure 100 acres of land from Brice Worley for $50.

then requested a patent in the summer of 1829, to lay out 160 acres of his land and sell plots in a move similar to creating a subdivision today. On February 3, 1830 the

General Assembly of Virginia The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere, the first elected legislative assembly in the New World, and was established on July 30, ...

passed an act, establishing the town as a

Municipal Corporation A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. The term can also be used to describe municipally owne ...

and naming it Blacksville. During the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, Blacksville became an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

on June 20, 1863. With the creation of the

U.S. State In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

. The

West Virginia Legislature The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI o ...

then re- incorporated the town in October 1897.

Geography

Blacksville is located at (39.720036, -80.212562). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 171 people, 69 households, and 46 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 79 housing units at an average density of . The

racial makeup A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...

of the town was 97.1% White and 2.9% from two or more races. Of the 69 households 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 24.6% of households were one person and 8.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age in the town was 35.2 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 12.3% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.5% male and 48.5% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 175 people, 69 households, and 50 families living in the town. The population density was 576.2 inhabitants per square mile (225.2/km). There were 84 housing units at an average density of 276.6 per square mile (108.1/km). The

of the town was 100.00% White. Of the 69 households 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 23.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 23.2% of households were one person and 14.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98. The age distribution was 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males. The median household income was $31,250 and the median family income was $36,875. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $16,667 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,461. About 12.5% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 21.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.1% of those sixty five or over.

Education

Monongalia County Schools Monongalia County Schools is a school district headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia Morgantown is a city in and the county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States, situated along the Monongahela River. The largest city in ...

serves Blacksville. Zoned schools include Mason Dixon Elementary School, and Clay-Battelle Middle/High School.

Blacksville pottery

During the mid 20th century, Blacksville was well known for its pottery, made by local residents using native clay. Edgar Richardson (b. Jollytown, PA 1903 - d. 1962) taught pottery at Clay-Battelle high school and his beautiful pieces, signed "E.R. - Blacksville," are still being auctioned and collected. First Lady

Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt () (October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four ...

visited Blacksville on June 28, 1938 to learn more about the "Blacksville pottery project."

References

External links

{{authority control Towns in Monongalia County, West Virginia Towns in West Virginia Morgantown metropolitan area