Wheeling, West Virginia
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Image:Downtown Wheeling WV.jpg Image:Buildings DowntownWheelingWV.jpg Wheeling is a city located in West Virginia, in the United States. Most of the city is in Ohio County, with a small part in Marshall County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 31,419 (31,059 in Ohio County, 360 in Marshall County). It is the county seat of Ohio CountyTemplate:GR.
Wheeling was the location of the Wheeling Convention, which established the state of West Virginia, and was the first capital city of the state.
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Geography
Image:WVMap-doton-Wheeling.PNG
Wheeling is located at 40°4'13" North, 80°41'55" West (40.070348, -80.698604)Template:GR. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.0 km² (15.8 mi²). 36.0 km² (13.9 mi²) of it is land and 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.07% water. Image:016 13A.jpg
Wheeling Creek flows through the city, and meets the Ohio River in downtown Wheeling.
The city is located both on the West Virginia side of the Ohio River and on an island in the middle of the river called Wheeling Island.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 31,419 people, 13,719 households, and 7,806 families residing in the city. The population density was 872.1/km² (2,258.4/mi²). There were 15,706 housing units at an average density of 436.0/km² (1,128.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.72% White, 4.99% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 13,719 households out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.89.
The age distribution is 20.6% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,388, and the median income for a family was $38,708. Males had a median income of $30,750 versus $22,099 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,923. 18.0% of the population and 13.1% of families were below the poverty line. 23.3% of those under the age of 18 and 11.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Past population figures
Historic U.S. Census population data for Wheeling:
1840 7,885 1850 11,435 1860 14,083 1870 19,280 1880 30,737 1890 34,522 1900 38,878 1910 41,641 1920 56,208 1930 61,659 1940 61,099 1950 58,891 1960 53,400 1970 48,188 1980 43,070 1990 34,882 2000 31,419
Attractions
Wheeling features several municipal parks including Oglebay Park and Wheeling Park. It is also the site of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge which was once the longest suspension bridge in the world. In 2004, a Cabela's outdoor retail store opened outside of Wheeling. It is to be the central feature in a new shopping complex outside of the city. Gaming has also come to Wheeling. Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center is located on Wheeling Island. It is home to greyhound racing and slots. The success of Wheeling Island racetrack has generated much debate about further legalisation of gambling in the Wheeling area.
Higher education
The Wheeling area is home to West Liberty State College, a public four-year college, and a private Jesuit university, Wheeling Jesuit University. The main branch of West Virginia Northern Community College is also located in downtown Wheeling.
K-12 educational opportunities abound in Wheeling. The public school system, Ohio County Schools, consists of 13 schools. There are eight elementary schools, one K-8 school, four middle schools and Wheeling Park High School. There also exists several private and parochial schools from which to choose.
Entertainment
Wheeling has an old-style theatre, the Capitol Music Hall. The Music Hall was home to a popular radio program in the early forties, This is Wheeling Steel, featuring musical performances by workers at a local steel plant. Nowadays, the Music Hall welcomes musical performances of all types. It is also the performance hall of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. It is also where the Jamboree USA country music program originated. The Capitol Music Hall is the largest theatre in the state of West Virginia, with some 2,500 seats. Wheeling is also home to the Wheeling Nailers hockey team. The Nailers play in the Wesbanco Arena, and participate in the North division, American Conference of the ECHL.
Media
Due to its close proximity to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wheeling is heavily influenced by Pittsburgh's broadcast media outlets which are easily received in the area. In addition to the Pittsburgh outlets the Wheeling television market is served by CBS affiliate WTRF-TV Channel 7, UPN affiliate WVTX-CA Channel 28, and NBC affiliate WTOV Channel 9 in nearby Steubenville, Ohio.
Wheeling Radio is served by WWVA 1170 AM, the state's highest powered AM station, WVLY 1370 AM and WKKX 1600 AM provides local news, sports, and talk. On the FM dial WVKF 95.7, WKWK 93.7, and WGEW 107.5 provides the area with various music genres. The Wheeling area is also the home of WVJW, a listener supported commercial-free station which also serves as the local Pacifica affiliate. A number of translators and repeater stations provide NPR and American Family Radio networks.
People from Wheeling
- Leon "Chu" Berry, jazz saxophonist
- John Corbett, actor
- Rebecca Harding Davis, author
- Doug Fetherling, writer
- Walter L. Fisher, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
- Gene Freese, baseball player
- Jack Glasscock, baseball player
- Chuck Howley, football player
- Bill Mazeroski, baseball player
- Bob Ney, U.S. Representative from Ohio
- Tim O'Brien, bluegrass musician
- Walter Reuther, labor leader
- John Yarnall, naval officer during War of 1812