Clarksburg, West Virginia
Encyclopedia : C : CL : CLA : Clarksburg, West Virginia
| Clarksburg, WV
| |
|---|---|
 | |
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| Founded | 1785 |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Harrison |
| Mayor | Sam Lopez |
| http://www.clarksburg.com/ | |
Clarksburg is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 16,743 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Harrison County[Geographic references#6GR6]. Since 1979 Clarksburg has hosted the annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival during Labor Day weekend. Each September since 1991 the city has been the site of the West Virginia Black Heritage Festival. The city is known as the "jewel of the hills."
History
Clarksburg was formed in 1785 in Virginia. The city is named for General George Rogers Clark. In 1824, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was born in Clarksburg.On October 11, 1996, seven men having connections with the Mountaineer Militia, a local anti-government paramilitary group, were arrested on charges of plotting to blow up the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Justice Information Services Division complex in Clarksburg. While members of the group had been assembling large quantities of explosives and blasting caps, militia leader Floyd Raymond Looker obtained blueprints of the FBI facility from a Clarksburg firefighter. Plastic explosives were confiscated by law enforcement officials at five locations in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Looker was taken into custody after arranging to sell the blueprints for $50,000 to an undercover FBI agent, whom he believed to be a representative of an international terrorist group. In 1998 Looker was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Two other defendants were sentenced on explosives charges, and the firefighter drew a year in prison for providing blueprints.
Geography
Clarksburg is located at (39.283401, -80.336906)[Geographic references#1GR1], along the West Fork River.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.7 km² (9.5 mi²), all land.
Economy and Industry
During most of the 20th century, Clarksburg was an industrial and manufactoring center, particularly in the glass industry.Since 1995 Clarksburg has been the location of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Justice Information Services Division, the largest division of the FBI. The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, a national fingerprint and criminal history system, became operational in July 1999 at the division's complex. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System, used to screen individuals attempting to receive a firearm, is operated from the facility.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 16,743 people, 7,447 households, and 4,378 families residing in the city. The population density was 679.0/km² (1,758.3/mi²). There were 8,662 housing units at an average density of 351.3/km² (909.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.86% White, 3.83% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino were 1.06% of the population.There were 7,447 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,722, and the median income for a family was $35,075. Males had a median income of $30,194 versus $22,388 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,587. About 14.8% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Past population figures
Historic U.S. Census population data for Clarksburg:
1880 2,307 1890 3,008 1900 4,050 1910 9,201 1920 27,869 1930 28,866 1940 30,579 1950 32,014 1960 28,112 1970 24,864 1980 22,371 1990 18,059 2000 16,743
Famous people from Clarksburg
- Phyllis Curtin opera soprano
- John W. Davis Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States in 1924
- Nathan Goff, Jr. congressman and United States Secretary of the Navy
- Stonewall Jackson Confederate lieutenant-general during the American Civil War
- Pare Lorentz film director
- Lloyd Lowndes, Jr. Governor of Maryland
- Cyrus Vance United States Secretary of State
- Patty Weaver actress, The Young and the Restless (1982-present), Days of Our Lives (1974-1982)
External links
- [West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival official web site]
- [Maps and aerial photos]
- * Street map from [Google Maps] or [Yahoo! Maps]
- * Topographic map from [TopoZone]
- * Aerial image or topographic map from [TerraServer-USA]
- * Satellite image from [Google Maps] or [Windows Live Local]
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