Editing Alderson, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Alderson, West Virginia
|settlement_type          = Town
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Alderson WV Historic Section.jpg
|image_caption            = Historic section on the Monroe County side
|image_flag               = Flag of Alderson, West Virginia.svg
|image_seal               = Seal of Alderson, West Virginia.png
|image_blank_emblem       = Logo of Alderson, West Virginia.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Greenbrier County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Alderson Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within Greenbrier and Monroe Counties and West Virginia
|image_map1               = 
|map_caption1             = 
|pushpin_map              = West Virginia#USA#North America

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_name1        = [[West Virginia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in West Virginia|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier]], [[Monroe County, West Virginia|Monroe]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Travis Lee Copenhaver<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.wvnstv.com/news/alderson-mayor-resigns-as-municipal-judge/ |title=Latest: Copenhaver to remain Alderson Mayor |first=Casey |last=Gentile |date=September 20, 2021 |website=wvnstv.com |access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Incorporated 
|established_date         = 1881<ref name="West Virginia Blue Book">{{cite book|last=[[West Virginia Legislature]]|first=|title=West Virginia Blue Book, 2017-2018|url= https://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/publications/bluebook/2017-2018/0943_WVS_BlueBook.pdf|chapter=Section Ten: Municipalities|year=2018|publisher=West Virginia Legislature|location=Charleston, West Virginia|page=945}}</ref>

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_54.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 2.47
|area_land_km2            = 2.31
|area_water_km2           = 0.16
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.95
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.89
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.06
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_est           = 966
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web   |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 975
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|population_density_km2   = 485.96
|population_density_sq_mi = 1258.39

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1549
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|43|40|N|80|38|37|W|region:US-WV_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 24910
|area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 54-00772<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2390700<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2390700}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|aldersonwv.org}}
}}

'''Alderson''' is a town in [[Greenbrier County|Greenbrier]] and [[Monroe County, West Virginia|Monroe]] counties in the U.S. state of [[West Virginia]], on both sides of the [[Greenbrier River]]. The population was 975 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>

==History==
[[File:Alderson Memorial Bridge in West Virginia.jpg|thumb|left|The historic 1914 Alderson Memorial Bridge<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.register-herald.com/news/alderson-memorial-bridge-celebrates-years/article_f372ffa4-708a-52ea-abde-8722dac95eef.html |title=Alderson Memorial Bridge celebrates 100 years |first=Autumn |last=Shelton |newspaper=The Register-Herald |date=July 7, 2014 |access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref>]]

Alderson is a community located along the [[Greenbrier River]] in [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier County]] and [[Monroe County, West Virginia|Monroe County]], incorporated in 1881.<ref name="West Virginia Blue Book"/>

In 1763, the nearby Muddy Creek settlements were destroyed by [[Shawnee|Shawnee Indians]] under Chief [[Cornstalk (Shawnee leader)|Cornstalk]].

Alderson was originally settled in 1777 by "Elder" John Alderson, a frontier missionary for whom the town is named, who organized the first Baptist church in the [[Greenbrier Valley]].

Alderson became an important livestock shipping point on the [[Chesapeake and Ohio Railway]].<ref name="Amtrak"/>

Alderson is the location of the [[Federal Prison Camp, Alderson|Federal Reformatory for Women]], which opened in 1927 as the first federal prison for women.

During the early 1900s, Alderson became a hub of higher education in the state. It was home to three separate institutions of higher education, including the Alderson Academy and Junior College, which eventually was integrated into [[Alderson-Broaddus College]] in 1932.

The [[Alexander McVeigh Miller House]] in Greenbrier County is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], as is [[Sunset Hill (Alderson, West Virginia)|Sunset Hill]] in Monroe County. The [[Alderson Bridge]] and [[Alderson Historic District]] are located in both counties.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.95|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.89|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Alderson, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1944–present)
|single line = Y
|width = auto
|Jan record high F = 78
|Feb record high F = 79
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 96
|Jul record high F = 102
|Aug record high F = 98
|Sep record high F = 99
|Oct record high F = 94
|Nov record high F = 85
|Dec record high F = 78
|year record high F = 102
|Jan high F = 41.3
|Feb high F = 45.4
|Mar high F = 54.0
|Apr high F = 66.4
|May high F = 74.6
|Jun high F = 81.0
|Jul high F = 84.3
|Aug high F = 83.4
|Sep high F = 78.2
|Oct high F = 67.8
|Nov high F = 55.4
|Dec high F = 44.7
|year high F = 64.7
|Jan mean F = 31.4
|Feb mean F = 34.6
|Mar mean F = 41.8
|Apr mean F = 52.6
|May mean F = 61.7
|Jun mean F = 69.3
|Jul mean F = 73.1
|Aug mean F = 71.9
|Sep mean F = 65.9
|Oct mean F = 54.3
|Nov mean F = 42.9
|Dec mean F = 34.9
|year mean F = 52.9
|Jan low F = 21.5
|Feb low F = 23.9
|Mar low F = 29.6
|Apr low F = 38.9
|May low F = 48.7
|Jun low F = 57.5
|Jul low F = 61.8
|Aug low F = 60.3
|Sep low F = 53.5
|Oct low F = 40.8
|Nov low F = 30.4
|Dec low F = 25.0
|year low F = 41.0
|Jan record low F = −9
|Feb record low F = −12
|Mar record low F = 0
|Apr record low F = 13
|May record low F = 24
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 42
|Sep record low F = 31
|Oct record low F = 11
|Nov record low F = 6
|Dec record low F = −8
|year record low F = -12
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.02
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.88
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.81
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.57
|May precipitation inch = 4.42
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.71
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.21
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.13
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.35
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.62
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.55
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.39
|year precipitation inch = 40.66
|Jan snow inch = 3.6
|Feb snow inch = 4.2
|Mar snow inch = 2.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.1
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.1
|Nov snow inch = 0.2
|Dec snow inch = 2.0
|year snow inch = 12.2
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 11.1
|Feb precipitation days = 10.2
|Mar precipitation days = 11.6
|Apr precipitation days = 11.2
|May precipitation days = 12.3
|Jun precipitation days = 10.9
|Jul precipitation days = 11.1
|Aug precipitation days = 10.2
|Sep precipitation days = 8.0
|Oct precipitation days = 7.7
|Nov precipitation days = 8.0
|Dec precipitation days = 11.2
|year precipitation days = 123.5
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.2
|Feb snow days = 2.2
|Mar snow days = 1.1
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.2
|Dec snow days = 1.3
|year snow days = 7.1
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>{{cite web|url= https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=rnk |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=July 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>{{cite web|url= https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00460102&format=pdf |title=Station: Alderson, WV |work=U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=July 1, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 478
|1890= 663
|1900= 518
|1910= 1252
|1920= 1401
|1930= 1458
|1940= 1493
|1950= 1489
|1960= 1225
|1970= 1278
|1980= 1375
|1990= 1152
|2000= 1091
|2010= 1184
|2020= 975
|estyear=2021
|estimate=966
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url= https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |website=Census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url= https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,184 people, 518 households, and 315 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1330.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 602 housing units at an average density of {{convert|676.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 91.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 3.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 518 households, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the town was 42.8 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,091 people, 481 households, and 305 families living in the town. The population density was 1,214.5 inhabitants per square mile (468.0/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 586 housing units at an average density of 652.3 per square mile (251.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 90.83% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.60% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 2.11% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.10% of the population.

There were 481 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,043, and the median income for a family was $29,028. Males had a median income of $31,000 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,474. About 17.8% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.7% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those aged 65 or over.

==Transportation==
[[File:Alderson, WV train station.jpg|thumb|The Alderson, WV train station served by Amtrak.]]
{{See also|Alderson (Amtrak station)}}
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail service, provides [[request stop]] service to Alderson. There is a only platform located at 1 C&O Plaza on Railroad Avenue.<ref name="Amtrak">{{cite web|url= https://www.amtrak.com/stations/ald |title=Alderson, WV (ALD) |work=Amtrak |access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref> It is served by the [[Cardinal (train)|Cardinal]] route.

==Economy==
[[File:Alderson Federal Prison Camp entrance.jpg|thumb|[[Federal Prison Camp, Alderson]] is the largest employer in the Alderson area]]
The [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] facility [[Federal Prison Camp, Alderson]], where media mogul [[Martha Stewart]] was imprisoned,<ref>{{cite web|last=de Vries |first=Lloyd |title=How Martha Coped At 'Yale' |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-martha-coped-at-yale/ |date=September 20, 2005 |access-date=September 29, 2012 }}</ref> is the largest employer in Alderson.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://business.highbeam.com/409663/article-1G1-123059858/welcome-alderson-stewart-began-her-5-months-before |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121020201951/http://business.highbeam.com/409663/article-1G1-123059858/welcome-alderson-stewart-began-her-5-months-before |url-status= dead |archive-date= October 20, 2012 |title=Welcome to Alderson; Stewart began her 5 months before dawn at W.Va. prison |newspaper=The Washington Times |date=October 9, 2004 |access-date=September 29, 2012 }}</ref> A portion of FPC Alderson is located in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Monroe County, West Virginia|Monroe County]], while the other portion of the prison lies in unincorporated [[Summers County, West Virginia|Summers County]].<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-125332430.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121102203613/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-125332430.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= November 2, 2012 |title=Martha's Prison Thanksgiving |newspaper=The Cincinnati Post |date=November 24, 2004 |quote=Mullins said the prison dormitories are in Summers County. |access-date=September 29, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bop.gov/DataSource/execute/dsFacilityAddressLoc?start=y&facilityCode=ald |title=FPC Alderson Contact Information |publisher=Federal Bureau of Prisons |access-date=September 29, 2012 |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110070345/http://www.bop.gov/DataSource/execute/dsFacilityAddressLoc?start=y&facilityCode=ald |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Alderson Federal Prison Camp is located on the spot on which the earliest settlers of the area chose to settle and called their settlement ''Baughman's Fort''. Baughman's Fort was built in the 1750s, and the settlement was supposedly destroyed by Native Americans shortly thereafter, though no factual evidence exists to support this theory. Few archaeological remains of the early fort remain after the building of the Federal Prison Camp in the early 20th century. Only notations in early journals refer to the location of the fort.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Greenbrier Historical Society |title=The History of Greenbrier County |first=Otis |last=Rice |year=1983 }}</ref>

Betty Alderson, who is married to a descendant of the founders of Alderson, stated, "Every business profited" when [[Martha Stewart]] was incarcerated at Alderson, and media attention was focused on the community. Residents planted bulbs into a garden that was to be named "Martha's Garden."<ref>{{cite web|last=Hancock |first=David |url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/theres-no-place-like-home/ |title=Martha: There's No Place Like Home |work=CBS News |date=March 4, 2005 |access-date=September 29, 2012 }}</ref>

==Local events==
"Alderson has gained fame for its elaborate Fourth of July festivities, as much a fitting celebration of small-town America as it is an observance of the nation's holiday."<ref>{{cite book|last=Chambers |first=S. Allen |title=Buildings of West Virginia |year=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780195165487 |page=160 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=I-ZPAAAAMAAJ&q=Alderson+has+gained+fame+for+its+elaborate+Fourth+of+July+festivities,+as+much+a+fitting+celebration+of+small-town+America+as+it+is+an+observance+of+the+nation%27s+holiday |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref> It is also one of the oldest celebrations in the state.<ref>{{cite book|last=Casto |first=James E. |title=The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway |year=2006 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9781439617465 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2_WCr_0NtYAC&q=Fourth+of+July+Celebration+in+Alderson+West+Virginia&pg=PT47 |access-date=January 13, 2018|quote=A holiday parade can be seen crossing the tracks in the background. (Photograph taken on Fourth July 1917)}}</ref> It currently has one of the largest Fourth of July celebrations in West Virginia, attracting approximately 15,000 people during the parade.<ref>{{cite web|last=Swartz |first=Mattison |title=Alderson Set to Kick off 56th Annual Fourth of July Celebration |url= http://www.wvnstv.com/archives/alderson-set-to-kick-off-56th-annual-fourth-of-july-celebration/840193683 |publisher=WVNS |date=June 13, 2017 |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref> It is unique by offering many family activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alderson 4th of July Celebration |url= http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/events/alderson-4th-of-july-celebration/ |publisher=Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine |date=July 1, 2017 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180114074138/http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/events/alderson-4th-of-july-celebration/ |archive-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Over six days, events include a fireman's rodeo, band shows, a car show, a parade, various races on the Greenbrier River, as well as a parade and fireworks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alderson 4th of July Celebration, 2018 |url= https://greenbrierwv.com/events/3974/alderson-4th-of-july-celebration |publisher=Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>

The Alderson Strawberry Festival began in 2016 and occurs annually during Memorial Day weekend. This festival celebrates strawberries, and the local farmers provide the strawberries for the event.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.register-herald.com/news/alderson-strawberry-festival-has-been-scheduled-for-may/article_503714ca-746a-504c-a4d0-bc3a9f87f7b3.html |title=Alderson Strawberry Festival has been scheduled for May 26 |last=Alvey |first=Tina |newspaper=Beckley Register-Herald |date=February 8, 2024|access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://greenbrierwv.com/events/alderson-strawberry-festival |title=Alderson Strawberry Festival |work=greenbrierwv.com |date=2025 |access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Mittie Frances Clarke Point]] wrote many of her novels here at "The Cedars".<ref name="Kennedy2015">{{cite web|last1=Kennedy |first1=Kathleen |title=Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller |url= https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/entries/1732 |work=e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia |access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Ada "Bricktop" Smith|Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith]], better known as [[Bricktop]] (August 14, 1894 – February 1, 1984) was an American dancer, singer, [[vaudevillian]], and self-described [[Bar (establishment)|saloon]]-keeper who owned the [[nightclub]] Chez Bricktop in Paris from 1924 to 1961, as well as clubs in [[Mexico City]] and Rome. She has been called "...one of the most legendary and enduring figures of 20th-century American cultural history.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wvculture.org/history/notewv/bricktop2.html |title=Cabaret Queen, Bricktop Is Dead |work=wvculture.org courtesy of Huntington Herald-Dispatch |date=February 2, 1984 |archive-url= http://web.archive.org/web/20190915011645/http://www.wvculture.org/history/notewv/bricktop2.html |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.min7th.com/awv/ Alderson West Virginia – A History]
* [http://www.min7th.com/ahs/ Alderson High School]

{{Greenbrier County, West Virginia}}
{{Monroe County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Greenbrier County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in Monroe County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Alderson, West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1881]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Greenbrier River]]