Morgantown, West Virginia

Morgantown is a city located in Monongalia County, West Virginia on the banks of the Monongahela River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 26,809. Morgantown is home to West Virginia University which constitues 913 acres (3.7 km²) of the city and vicinity. It is the county seat of Monongalia CountyTemplate:GR. The city was founded by Zackquill Morgan.

During the 1970's Morgantown built a personal rapid transit system to ease increasing traffic problems and connect the main WVU downtown campus to other parts of Morgantown. The Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) has been in use since 1975.

Geography

Location of Morgantown, West Virginia

Morgantown is located at 39°38'1" North, 79°57'2" West (39.633696, -79.950670)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.2 km² (10.1 mi²). 25.4 km² (9.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.16% water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 26,809 people, 10,782 households, and 4,183 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,056.2/km² (2,736.0/mi²). There are 11,721 housing units at an average density of 461.8/km² (1,196.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 89.48% White, 4.15% African American, 0.17% Native American, 4.15% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 10,782 households out of which 15.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.1% are married couples living together, 7.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 61.2% are non-families. 37.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.08 and the average family size is 2.76.

Morgantown's age distribution, which is heavily influenced by the presence of West Virginia University, is: 11.1% under the age of 18, 44.7% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 13.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 23 years. For every 100 females there are 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 105.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $20,649, and the median income for a family is $44,622. Males have a median income of $33,268 versus $24,944 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,459. 38.4% of the population and 15.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.3% of those under the age of 18 and 8.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Note, however, that traditional poverty statistics can be misleading when applied to communities with large student populations, such as Morgantown.

History

Morgantown is closely tied to the Anglo-French struggle for this territory. Until the Treaty of Paris in 1763, what is now known as Morgantown was greatly contested among settlers and native Indians, as well as the English and the French. The treaty decided the issue in favor of the English, but Indian fighting continued almost to the beginning of the Revolution.

Several forts were built in the area after this conflict. Fort Pierpont was constructed towards the Cheat River, in 1769. Fort Coburn was built in 1770, near Dorsey's Knob. Fort Morgan was established in 1772 at the present site of Morgantown. Fort Dinwiddle, north several miles at Stewartstown, was built in 1772. Fort Martin was established in 1773, several miles north on the Monongahela River. Fort Burris was erected in 1774 in the Suncrest area of Morgantown. Fort Kern was built in the Greenmont area of Morgantown in 1774, as well as other small forts that served the purpose at the time.

Morgantown was settled in 1772 by Zaquill Morgan. The Virginia Assembly chartered the territory in 1785 and the first lot sale was held. Morgan received the charter for the establishment of the town to be called Morgan's Town. The direct result of the Virginia Charter is the present city of Morgantown.

Notable early structures that still stand in Morgantown include the "old Stone House," built in 1795. The structure stood on the street known as "Long Alley," but is known today as Chestnut Street. Another structure that has been well restored is the home built by John Rogers on Foundry Street. This structure was built in 1840 and is now occupied by the Dering Funeral Home.

Morgantown has seen many changes since the charter of Morgan's Town in 1785. Since that time Morgantown has developed the finest educational, research, industrial, health and transportation facilities available in the area. A healthy business atmosphere and strong community effort assures that Morgantown has a lot of history to come.

Famous people from Morgantown

• Don Knotts
• Warren Woodford