Moundsville is a city in Marshall County, West Virginia, United States, along the

Ohio River The Ohio River is a long river in the United States. It is located at the boundary of the Midwestern and Southern United States, flowing southwesterly from western Pennsylvania to its mouth on the Mississippi River at the southern tip of Illino ...

. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia metropolitan area. The population was 8,122 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County. The city was named for the nearby ancient

Grave Creek Mound The Grave Creek Mound in the Ohio River Valley in West Virginia is one of the largest conical-type burial mounds in the United States, now standing high and in diameter. The builders of the site, members of the Adena culture, moved more than 60,0 ...

, constructed 250 to 100 BC by indigenous people of the Adena culture.

History

In 1771, English colonists Samuel and James Tomlinson built a cabin at what later became Moundsville, although they did not overwinter, and in fact left for several years after attacks by Native Americans. Elizabethtown, as Tomlinson's community was called, was incorporated in 1830 and would become the county seat upon the creation of Marshall County in 1835. Nearby, the town of Mound City was incorporated in 1832. The two towns combined in 1865. In 1852 a line of the

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first common carrier railroad and the oldest railroad in the United States, with its first section opening in 1830. Merchants from Baltimore, which had benefited to some extent from the construction of ...

opened, connecting the eastern rail network with the Ohio and Mississippi riverboat system; Moundsville was an important port until 1861, when the Civil War shut down the river system and caused major damage to the railroad. Fostoria Glass Company (specializing in hand-blown glassworks) was headquartered in Moundsville from 1891 to 1986. The retired West Virginia State Penitentiary operated in Moundsville from 1867 to 1995. On August 4, 1927, Charles Lindbergh landed

The Spirit of St. Louis The ''Spirit of St. Louis'' (formally the Ryan NYP, registration: N-X-211) is the custom-built, single-engine, single-seat, high-wing monoplane that was flown by Charles Lindbergh on May 20–21, 1927, on the first solo nonstop transatlanti ...

at Langin Field in Moundsville.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Moundsville has a

Humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,318 people, 4,016 households, and 2,445 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 4,458 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.5% White, 0.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 1.1% of the population. There were 4,016 households, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.79. The median age in the city was 45.2 years. 19.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,998 people, 4,122 households, and 2,662 families living in the city. The population density was 3,399.0 people per square mile (1,313.0/km²). There were 4,461 housing units at an average density of 1,516.6 per square mile (585.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.13% White, 0.73% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.30%

, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or

of any race were 1.16% of the population. There were 4,122 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were

living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84. In the city the population was spread out, with 20.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $23,107, and the median income for a family was $30,534. Males had a median income of $26,242 versus $19,348 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,997. About 18.1% of families and 22.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.2% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

* Edward L. Athey, sports coach at Washington College. *

Steve Crabtree ''yes'Steve is a masculine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Steven or Stephen Notable people with the name include: steve jops * Steve Abbott (disambiguation), several people * Steve Adams (disambiguation), several people * Steve A ...

, Republican politician and media personality * Frank De Vol, film and television music composer and actor *

Virginia B. Evans Virginia B. Evans (June 5, 1894 – March 23, 1983) was a West Virginia visual artist and teacher. In the Ohio Valley region she became famous for her impressionist painting and art deco glass work. Considered one of West Virginia's foremost artis ...

, painter, glass artist, and teacher * Joseph W. Gallaher, businessman and politician * Davis Grubb, novelist and story writer *

Kristin Lewicki Kristin Lewicki (born June 10, 1995) is an American ice hockey forward, currently playing with the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). Career From 2013 to 2017, she attended Adrian College, scoring 179 points in 113 N ...

, professional ice hockey player * Adrian Melott, astrophysicist and astrobiologist * Arch A. Moore, Jr., former Governor of West Virginia *

Ed Pastilong Edward Pastilong (born 1943) is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the athletic director at West Virginia University from 1989 to 2010. Early life Pastilong was born in Moundsville, West ...

, football player, coach, and college athletics administrator, WVU's Director of Athletics for 21 years *

Ted Valentine Theodore Valentine (born circa 1959) is an American college basketball referee. Over a career spanning four decades he has refereed four NCAA championships, 10 Final Fours, and 28 NCAA tournaments. In 2005, he won the Naismith College Official o ...

, NCAA men's basketball referee and 2005

Naismith College Official of the Year This page includes variants Nasmith, Nasmyth, and Naysmith. General * Naismith's Rule, used in hiking * Nasmyth telescope * Primary enamel cuticle, also known as ''Nasmyth's membrane'' Places * Naismith, Montana * Nasmyth (crater) on the Moon ...

Gallery

File:Grave Creek Mound.jpg,

. File:Moundsville Bridge.jpg,

Moundsville Bridge The Moundsville Bridge is a four-lane through arch bridge that connects Mead Township, Ohio and Moundsville, West Virginia across the Ohio River. The approach routes to the bridge carries Ohio State Route 872 (SR 872) on the Ohio side and the u ...

. File:West Virginia State Penitentiary.jpg, West Virginia State Penitentiary.

In popular culture

In 2018, documentary filmmakers David Bernabo and John W. Miller released ''Moundsville'', a documentary about the history of Moundsville. ''You Missed My Heart'', a song by

Mark Kozelek Mark Edward Kozelek (born January 24, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and occasional actor. He is known as the vocalist and primary recording artist of the indie folk act Sun Kil Moon and founding member of ...

Sun Kil Moon Sun Kil Moon is an American folk rock act from San Francisco, California, founded in 2002. Initially a continuation of the defunct indie rock band Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon is now the primary recording moniker of vocalist and guitarist M ...

and

Jimmy LaValle The Album Leaf is an American musical project founded in San Diego, California, in 1998 by Jimmy LaValle. He is known for his use of electronics, synthesizer, and Rhodes piano. His performances often feature projected visual art. History I ...

, references a prison cemetery in Moundsville. This song has also been covered by Phoebe Bridgers.

References

External links

City's official website
* {{Authority control Cities in West Virginia Cities in Marshall County, West Virginia County seats in West Virginia West Virginia populated places on the Ohio River 1771 establishments in Virginia Populated places established in 1771