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Thomas, West Virginia

Coordinates: 39°8′53″N 79°29′50″W / 39.14806°N 79.49722°W / 39.14806; -79.49722
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Thomas, West Virginia
City
East Avenue in Thomas in 2006
East Avenue in Thomas in 2006
Location of Thomas in Tucker County, West Virginia.
Location of Thomas in Tucker County, West Virginia.
Coordinates: 39°8′53″N 79°29′50″W / 39.14806°N 79.49722°W / 39.14806; -79.49722
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyTucker
Area
[1]
 • Total
4.51 sq mi (11.67 km2)
 • Land4.46 sq mi (11.55 km2)
 • Water0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation
3,035 ft (925 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
623
 • Estimate 
(2021)[2]
614
 • Density123.32/sq mi (47.61/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
26292
Area code304
FIPS code54-80020[3]
GNIS feature ID1555802[4]
Websitelocal.wv.gov/thomas/Pages/default.aspx

Thomas is a city and former coal town in Tucker County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 623 at the 2020 census.[2]

History

[edit]

Thomas was platted in 1884.[5] Thomas was named for Thomas Beall Davis (1828-1911), brother of Senator Henry Gassaway Davis.[6] The Davis brothers, in 1883, opened a mine near Thomas and had coal ready to ship when their railway arrived a year later. By 1892, Davis Coal and Coke was among the largest and best known coal companies in the world and employed 1,600 people. At the peak of its operations in 1915, there were nine producing mines within a mile of the company's office in Thomas.

Immigrants flocked to the area as miners, railroad laborers, or merchants. The company employed a man named Wladyslaw Dackiewicz as an interpreter. He could speak, read, and write eight languages and his services were much in demand with the influx of immigrants.

In 1901, in less than two hours, nearly half of Thomas (83 buildings) was destroyed by a fire. The city was quickly rebuilt with fine hotels and a new opera house. The Cottrill Opera House had a saloon on the first floor which was by far the most elegant of the eight bars located on Front Street. In 1909, Front Street (also known as First Street, Main Street, and East Avenue) was laid with brick to become the first paved street in the county.[citation needed]

Thomas claimed to have the grandest railway station between Cumberland, Maryland, and Elkins, West Virginia. Built of brick in 1901, it was destroyed by a tornado in 1944.[citation needed]

In 1921, coke production ceased and mining operations slowed.

The Cottrill Opera House, Davis Coal and Coke Company Administrative Building, Fairfax Stone, and Thomas Commercial Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7][8]

  • Western Maryland Railroad Depot[9]
    Western Maryland Railroad Depot[9]
  • Thomas in 1906[9]
    Thomas in 1906[9]
  • Davis Coal and Coke Co Mining Operation
    Davis Coal and Coke Co Mining Operation
  • Buxton and Landstreet Company Store[9]
    Buxton and Landstreet Company Store[9]
  • Cottrill Opera House[9]
    Cottrill Opera House[9]
  • Thomas City Hall in 2006
    Thomas City Hall in 2006

Geography

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Thomas is located along the North Fork of the Blackwater River.[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.51 square miles (11.68 km2), of which 4.46 square miles (11.55 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[11]

Climate

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The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. Thomas has a humid contintal climate (Koppen: Dfb).[12]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890269—
19002,126690.3%
19102,35410.7%
19202,099−10.8%
19301,660−20.9%
19401,449−12.7%
19501,146−20.9%
1960830−27.6%
1970713−14.1%
19807474.8%
1990573−23.3%
2000452−21.1%
201058629.6%
20206236.3%
2021 (est.)614[2]−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 586 people, 253 households, and 130 families living in the city. The population density was 131.4 inhabitants per square mile (50.7/km2). There were 345 housing units at an average density of 77.4 per square mile (29.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.5% White, 0.2% Native American, and 0.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.

There were 253 households, of which 17.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.6% were non-families. 42.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.62.

The median age in the city was 56.6 years. 11.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.2% were from 25 to 44; 28.8% were from 45 to 64; and 35.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census

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As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 452 people, 224 households, and 127 families living in the city. The population density was 753.6 people per square mile (290.9/km2). There were 280 housing units at an average density of 466.8 per square mile (180.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.67% White, and 1.33% from two or more races.

There were 224 households, out of which 16.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 15.0% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 33.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,443, and the median income for a family was $25,417. Males had a median income of $27,188 versus $14,886 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,918. About 13.8% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ Capace, Nancy (1999). Encyclopedia of West Virginia. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-403-09843-9.
  6. ^ Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, West Virginia: The Place Name Press. p. 624.
  7. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  8. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 10/03/11 through 10/07/11. National Park Service. November 14, 2012. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d Nutter, T (1906). Thomas, West Virginia : History, Progress and Development. McClain Printing Company.
  10. ^ DeLorme (1997). West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-246-3.
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  12. ^ "Thomas climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Thomas weather averages - Climate-Data.org". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  13. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
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