Smithers, West Virginia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Smithers, West Virginia
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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image_

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Smithers, West Virginia


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = West Virginia
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Fayette, Kanawha

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 1.4
area_land_km2 = 1.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.5
area_land_sq_mi = 0.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 904
population_density_km2 = 651.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1686.9

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 193
elevation_ft = 633
latd = 38 |latm = 10 |lats = 39 |latNS = N
longd = 81 |longm = 18 |longs = 23 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 25186
area_code = 304
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 54-74740GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1547007GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Smithers is a city in West Virginia, along the Kanawha River. Almost all of the city is in Fayette County, with a very small part in Kanawha County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 904 (901 in Fayette County, 3 in Kanawha County). The small river city is noted for having a rich cultural history related to both its coal mining and Italian-American heritages.

Geography

Smithers is located at coor dms|38|10|39|N|81|18|23|W|city (38.177389, -81.306269)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.4 km²).None of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 904 people, 450 households, and 259 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,686.9 people per square mile (646.4/km²). There were 553 housing units at an average density of 1,031.9/sq mi (395.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.15% White, 8.41% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.22% of the population.

There were 450 households out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.63.

The age distribution is 19.8% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age 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 83.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,417, and the median income for a family was $27,734. Males had a median income of $22,353 versus $18,846 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,807. About 20.0% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Smithers has a combined middle school and high school, Valley High School, serving grades 6-12.

Notable Natives

*Gino Marchetti-Inductee in the Pro-Football Hall of Fame.
* [http://www.wvculture.org/History/counties/fayette.html John Cavalier] , local author.
* [http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/070902/roc_20020707042.shtml Bertis Downs] , manager and legal consul to alternative-rock band R.E.M.

References

External links