Oakvale is a town in Mercer 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, along the

East River The East River is a saltwater tidal estuary in New York City. The waterway, which is actually not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates the borough of Queens ...

. The population was 137 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV- VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578.

History

Oakvale was originally known as "Frenchville" after an early settler, Captain Napoleon French. It was renamed Oakvale after the dense stands of

oak trees An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

that grew in the valley. The town incorporated in 1907.Twin Falls to Kellysville and Return
" p. 6. Norfolk and Western Historical Society website. Accessed 16 May 2018.

Geography

Oakvale is located at (37.332163, -80.968802). The town is situated in a narrow valley along the

, a few miles west of the state line between

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 ...

and West Virginia.

West Virginia Route 112 West Virginia Route 112 is an east–west state highway in southern West Virginia. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 19 east of Bluefield, in the shadow of a "bridge to nowhere"Charles OwensRobert C. Byrd's vision of a grand 'King Coal Hi ...

(Ingleside Road) traverses Oakvale, connecting the town with Bluefield to the southwest.

U.S. Route 460 U.S. Route 460 (US 460) is a spur route of U.S. Route 60. It currently runs for 655 miles (1,054 km) from Norfolk, Virginia, at its parent route U.S. Route 60 at Ocean View to Frankfort, Kentucky, intersecting its parent route once ...

passes just north of the town. 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 , all land.

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 121 people, 49 households, and 31 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 55 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 100.0% White. Of the 49 households 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 22.4% of households were one person and 10.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age in the town was 41.9 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 52.1% male and 47.9% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 142 people, 58 households, and 45 families living in the town. The population density was 332.2 inhabitants per square mile (127.5/km). There were 65 housing units at an average density of 152.0 per square mile (58.4/km). The

of the town was 97.89% White, 1.41% African American, and 0.70% from two or more races. Of the 58 households 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 20.7% of households were one person and 12.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.73. The age distribution was 23.2% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males. The median household income was $22,500 and the median family income was $23,750. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,593. There were 9.5% of families and 19.0% of the population living 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 16.0% of under eighteens and 25.0% of those over 64.

References

External links

* {{authority control Towns in Mercer County, West Virginia Towns in West Virginia Bluefield micropolitan area