Cowen is a town in Webster 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 B ...

, United States. The population was 488 at the 2020 census.

History

Cowen was named for a president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Camp Caesar was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 2009. The West Virginia Baptist Camp is just outside Cowen, on the Williams River Road. It was established in 1943 and has been in continuous use each summer since then.

Geography

Cowen is located at (38.410605, -80.555695). 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 t ...

, the town has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 541 people, 230 households, and 156 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 275 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 98.3% White, 0.2% Native American, and 1.5% from two or more races. Of the 230 households 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.2% were non-families. 26.5% of households were one person and 13.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age in the town was 41.7 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 513 people, 224 households, and 148 families living in the town. The population density was 819.8 inhabitants per square mile (314.4/km). There were 264 housing units at an average density of 421.9 per square mile (161.8/km). The

of the town was 99.61% White, 0.19% African American, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39%. Of the 224 households 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 29.5% of households were one person and 14.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.80. The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males. The median household income was $21,250 and the median family income was $30,147. Males had a median income of $26,389 versus $15,139 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,893. About 19.1% of families and 27.0% 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 39.7% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

References

{{authority control Towns in West Virginia Towns in Webster County, West Virginia