Romney, West Virginia
Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROM : Romney, West Virginia
Romney is a city in Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city and its environs population was 5,873 [link], 1,940 of which live within the city limits. It is the county seat of Hampshire County[Geographic references#6GR6]. Originally settled in 1725 by hunters and traders, Romney was known as Pearsall's Flats and was the site of the French and Indian War stockade Fort Pearsall. Romney holds the title of West Virginia's oldest town, chartered December 23, 1762. Named for the Cinque Ports city of Romney, Kent, England by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the town still bears placenames and symbols from its colonial past such as its Marsham Street, named for Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney. It is also home to the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind and the nation's First Confederate Memorial in Indian Mound Cemetery.
Contents
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 1,940 people, 884 households, and 454 families residing in the city. The population density was 814.2/km² (2,114.3/mi²). There were 974 housing units at an average density of 408.8/km² (1,061.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.91% White, 1.91% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.There were 884 households out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.7% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. 44.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.72.
| Historical populations | |
|---|---|
| Census year | Population |
| 1810 | 295 |
| 1850 | 456 |
| 1890 | 451 |
| 1970 | 2,364 |
| 1980 | 2,094 |
| 1990 | 1,966 |
| 2000 | 1,940 |
| 2004 | 1,960 |
The median income for a household in the city was $22,261, and the median income for a family was $34,271. Males had a median income of $28,667 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,765. About 17.2% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.
Romney during the American Civil War
Historic Sites
- Arnold House (1770) The families Millar, Parker, and Arnold are associated with this house built in 1770. It was the home of Isaac Millar, a prominent officer during the American Revolutionary War, businessman and civic leader.
- Blue House (1900) This has been home to descendants of Lieutenant John Blue, famed Confederate spy, whose memoirs were published in Hanging Rock Rebel.
- Boxwood (1800) Reortedly sold for about $10 for unpaid taxes, the house was used as an American Civil War hospital. It is said that each of the 56 changes between the Northern and Southern armies during the Civil War in Romney took place under the great elm in the front yard.
- The Buffalo House at Fern Cliff (early 1800s) Isaac Pancake built the original log portion in the early 1800s. Recently restored with additions made, it is the home of John and Barbara Pancake.
- The Burg (c. 1769) Built around 1769, this property has been in the original family (Williams) for seven generations. It was used as headquarters by both armies during the Civil War.
- Cookman Building (1906) Built originally as the Bank of Romney building and currently serves as the offices for the Hampshire Review newspaper.
- County Poor Farm (late 1700s) Originally a glebe-house for the local Episcopal church and then Hampshire County's "poor farm."
- Davis History House (1798) The Davis House was home to the Davis family which sent two sons to fight for the Confederacy and one for the Union. Now a museum, it features Civil War artifacts and period furnishings.
- Farmer's Exchange (late 1800s) At one time Shorty Mauk's store, the Farmer's Exchange has served as a store for the Romney community in some capacity for over one hundred years.
- First Confederate Memorial (1867)
- First United Methodist Church (1904)
- Green Meadows (c. 1900) This farm served as the first sweet corn truck farm in Hampshire County.
- Hickory Grove (1838) Adam Stump and wife, Mary Gregg Parsons, built the brick house in 1838. Their son, Captain George Stump, was killed by Yankee soldiers a short distance from his house just before the end of the war. The seventh generation of the family continue to live there.
- Kerns House (c. 1780) Now the home of the American Legion, it was built by Hessian former prisoners of war soon after the American Revolutionary War ended. The front is Flemish bond construction, the sides of American bond. Much of the window glass is original.
- Kuykendall-Hicks House (mid-1700s) The north portion of the present structure was Fort Kuykendall built during the French and Indian War. Additions were made in 1814 by Isaac Pancake and a two story addition was completed in 1987.
- Liberty Hall (1858) Traditionally referred to as Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's headquarters, the house and grounds were used by both Union and Confederate troops at various times during the Civil War. It was built in 1858 by John B. White, clerk of the circuit and superior court in Hampshire County, who fled to Richmond to escape arrest and served in the Treasury Department of the Confederacy.
- Literary Hall (c. 1820) As a meeting place of the Literary Society, it housed the largest library west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. On the National Register of Historic Places, it features antique firearms, music boxes, and period furnishings.
- Pancake-Kuykendall House (1872) Situated on lot 12 of the Fairfax South Branch River Survey, it was built in 1872 by Joseph A. and Susan Parsons Pancake. Third generation Pancake family continue to live there.
- Romney Classical Institute (1846) Extensively remodeled after 1870 when it became the administration building for the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind. Wings were added to the original Institute and another building was added in 1900 (the taller building in the picture shown to the right).
- Old Romney High School (1930) Originally built as a high school to replace the Old Romney Public School, and then converted into a junior high in the 1960s after the creation of Hampshire High School, and then into a middle school until the new Romney Middle School was opened in 2005.
- Romney Presbyterian Church (1860) It was used as a hospital and stable during the Civil War. Originally it had a bell tower and steeple, but those were removed because of the weakened condition of the building. Iron rails outside and rods inside were added to reinforce the walls.
- Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church (1885) Built in 1885 for $1800, this small brick church features Gothic windows and tiny porticos. The Tiffany-style alter window is in memory of the minister who served from 1886 to 1915. The marble baptismal font predates the church building.
- School House (1825) Built as a church around 1825, it suffered a fire in 1853. From 1866 to 1906 it served as public school, with primary grades continuing to be housed there for some time after. It became a private home in 1914.
- Sycamore Dale (1836) Referred to in the General Lew Wallace raid of June 12, 1861, Sycamore Dale was built by David Gibson in 1836. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wallace wrote a portion of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ here.
- Taggart Hall (c. 1790s) Frances Taggart, a Quaker, constructed this clapboard "half" house on a lot from the Lord Fairfax survey. It now serves as headquarters for the Fort Mill Ridge Foundation Museum & Exhibit Center.
- Valley View (1855) Built for Hannah Parsons Harlan by her father, James "Big Jim" Parsons. Sold in 1927 to Joseph O'Hara, who was instrumental in bringing electric power to Romney. Currently a private home.
- Van Meter Fort (1754) Used as a French and Indian War fort, this structure is adjacent to the Kuykendall house. It shows the gun slits and relatively fireproof construction.
- Wappacoma (1773) The main part of the house was built in 1773 from bricks used as ballast on English ships, off-loaded at Newport News, and hauled across the mountains by oxen. It has been home to six generations of the original family.
- Wilson-Wodrow-Mytinger House (c. 1760) Romney's oldest house features three buildings. The main house reflects architecture of the Jamestown area. The clerk's office, West Virginia's oldest public office building, 1788, was constructed in a Williamsburg. These structures are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Parks and recreation
- Hampshire High School Sports Complex, US Route 50 East
- *Baseball Field, Cross Country Trails, Running Track, Soccer Field, Softball Field
- Hampshire Park & 4-H Camp, South Branch River Road (CR 8)
- *Picnic Pavilions, Baseball Field, Basketball Court, Volleyball Court, Tennis Courts
- Old Romney High School, 111 School Street
- *Baseball Field, Basketball Courts, Football Field, Running Track
- Romney Recreation Center, 260 School Street
- *Swimming Facilities
- West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind Grounds, East Main Street
- *Baseball Field, Basketball Courts, Picnic Pavilions, Running Track, Soccer Field, Swimming Facilities
Additional Romney Articles
- Complete List of Romney Streets
- Complete List of Romney, WV Churches
References
- Ailes, John C. Romney, West Virginia, 1762-1962. Romney, West Virginia, Hampshire Review, 1962.
- Ambler, Charles Henry. "Romney In The Civil War." West Virginia History, Charleston, West Virginia, 1943-44. Arc 1. 4: 5.
- Ansel, William H., Jr. Frontier Forts Along The Potomac And Its Tributaries. Parsons, West Virginia, McClain Publishing Company, reprint 1995.
- Brannon, Selden W. Historic Hampshire. Parsons, West Virginia, McClain Printing Company, 1976.
- Hampshire County 250th Anniversary Committee: Hampshire County, West Virginia, 1754-2004. 2004.
- Maxwell, Hu. History of Hampshire County, West Virginia: From its earliest settlement to the present. Morgantown, West Virginia, A.B. Boughner, 1897.
- Romney Town Council. Historic Romney, 1762-1937. Romney, 1937.
- Sauers, Richard A. The Devastating Hand of War: Romney, West Virginia During the Civil War. Leesburg, Virginia, Gauley Mount Press, 2000.
Town of Romney Links
- [www.RomneyWV.com]
- [Romney Elementary School]
- [Romney Middle School]
- [Hampshire County Chamber of Commerce]
- [Hampshire Review Newspaper]
- [Hampshire County History Homepage]
- [Hampshire County Public Library]
- [Hampshire High School]
- [West Virginia School for the Deaf & Blind Homepage]
Romney Business & Tourism Links
- [The Bank of Romney]
- [Chef Harv's WV Gourmet Central]
- [Coldwell Banker Hometown Realty]
- [Crystal Valley Ranch]
- [Dillon's Furniture & Country Treasures]
- [The First National Bank of Romney]
- [Hampshire House 1884 Bed & Breakfast]
- [The Koolwink Motel]
- [Middle Ridge Campground]
- [Peterkin Camp & Conference Center]
- [Potomac Center, Inc.]
- [Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad]
- [South Branch Inn Romney]
- [Trough General Store Canoe Rentals]
Romney Maps & Satellite Images
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