Belington, West Virginia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Belington, West Virginia
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = West Virginia
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Barbour

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
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established_date =

area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 5.6
area_land_km2 = 5.3
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_total_sq_mi = 2.2
area_land_sq_mi = 2.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1788
population_density_km2 = 336.0
population_density_sq_mi = 870.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 519
elevation_ft = 1703
latd = 39 |latm = 1 |lats = 33 |latNS = N
longd = 79 |longm = 56 |longs = 17 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 26250
area_code = 304
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 54-05788GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1535594GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Belington is a town in Barbour County, West Virginia, along the Tygart Valley River. The population was 1,788 as of the 2000 census.

Geography

Belington is located at coor dms|39|1|33|N|79|56|17|W|city (39.025706, -79.938166)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²). 5.3 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (4.65%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,788 people, 713 households, and 518 families residing in the town. The population density was 336.8/km² (870.2/mi²). There were 790 housing units at an average density of 148.8/km² (384.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.66% White, 0.06% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 713 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,154, and the median income for a family was $28,500. Males had a median income of $25,809 versus $15,050 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,905. About 18.3% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.9% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

Belington was founded in 1769. Originally it was known as the Barker Settlement, after Elias Barker who had settled there with his brother William Barker. In 1785 or so, it was called Yeagers, taking its name from a settler, George Yeager, and his sons. In 1855, it took its current name, Belington, from John Bealin who had opened up a store there, and who would later move to Kansas.

After the June 3, 1861 Battle of Philippi, considered by some to be the first land battle of the Civil War, the Confederate forces, having been routed by the Union Army in Philippi, retreated south. The Confederates made camp near the Laurel Mountain Road, today, a winding single lane dirt road that crosses the mountain and connects Belington, WV to Elkins, WV.

Belington Fire Department

Established in 1939, Belington Fire Department has been providing Service to the community. The Belington Fire Department has been a volunteer fire Department since it was established. Before 1939 the community was protected by Enterprise Hose Company. The Belington Fire Department was first housed in a garage beside city hall, later it was moved on the other side of city hall to be housed on Crim Ave. In 1939 the City of Belington received a grant from WPA to construct a town hall, with the building of the town hall the first fire department was built along with the new city hall. The first piece of apparatus was Engine 39 this vehicle was purchased by the City of Belington. The Enterprise Hose Company later that year purchased Engine 39 from the City of Belington and Mayor Doc Guy Michaels, and in doing so formed the Belington Fire Department Inc. Engine 39 is still housed inside Station 3. In 1970, the Belington Fire Department moved from its house on Walnut St. behind city hall to a location on the main road through town Crim Ave, And during the flood of 1985 the Station 3 was flooded with at least 4 foot of water. In 2003, the Belington Fire Department was moved for a third time to its current location on the corner of Elliot Ave and Watkins. The new house includes a chief’s office, a dispatch room, 2 restrooms, a shower, dayroom, tool room, 7 truck bays, and a wash bay. www.belingtonfire.com

References

External links

* [http://www.belingtonfire.com/ Belington Fire department official Website, Beligton WV.]