Editing Belington, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Belington, West Virginia
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Belington, West Virginia.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Barbour County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Belington Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Belington in Barbour County, West Virginia.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|West Virginia|size=23px}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in West Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Barbour County, West Virginia|Barbour]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[United States magistrate judge#State courts|Districts]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Barker District, Barbour County, West Virginia|Barker]] (Wards 1, 2)<br/>[[Valley District, Barbour County, West Virginia|Valley]] (Wards 3, 4)

<!-- established --------------->
| established_title1 = Settled
| established_date1  = 1766-70
| established_title2 = Incorporated
| established_date2  = 1894-08-22<ref name=cityweb>City of Belington, WV. [http://www.local.wv.gov/Belington/Pages/about.aspx "About Us."] Accessed July 28, 2013.</ref>
| founder            = 
| named_for          = John Bealin

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Mayor & City Council
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Cherri Sturm
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
<!-- 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_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 5.52
| area_land_km2      = 5.34
| area_water_km2     = 0.18
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.13
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.06
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.07

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est     = 1803
| 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 2, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total   = 1804
| population_density_km2 = 356.24
| population_density_sq_mi = 922.85

<!-- 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_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 1703
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|1|33|N|79|56|17|W|region:US_type:town|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 26250
| area_code          = [[Area code 304|304]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 54-05788<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        = 1535594<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1535594}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://cityofbelington.com}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Belington''' is a town in [[Barbour County, West Virginia]], United States, situated along the [[Tygart Valley River]]. The population was 1,804 as of the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>

==History==
Belington was founded in 1766–70.<ref name=cityweb/> Originally it was known as the Barker Settlement, after Elias Barker, who had settled there with his brother William Barker. About 1785, it was called Yeagers, taking its name from a settler, George Yeager, and his sons. In 1855, it took its current name, Belington, from John Bealin, who had opened up a store there, and who would later move to [[Kansas]].

After the June 3, 1861 [[Battle of Philippi Races|Battle of Philippi]], the Confederate forces, having been routed by the Union Army in [[Philippi, West Virginia|Philippi]], retreated south. The Confederates made camp near the Laurel Mountain Road, today, a winding single lane dirt road that crosses the mountain and connects Belington with [[Elkins, West Virginia|Elkins]].

A bridge spanning the Tygart Valley River at Belington was built in 1886.<ref>{{cite book|last=Maxwell|first=Hu|title=The History of Barbour County, West Virginia: From Its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofbarbour00maxw|year=1899|publisher=Acme publishing Company|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofbarbour00maxw/page/315 315]}}</ref>

In 1891, the [[West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway]] (later the [[Western Maryland Railway]]) was built into Belington. In 1894 the land on the east side of the river was incorporated as Belington, while the west side was incorporated as Alston in 1897. The two towns merged in 1906 to form the present Belington.<ref name=cityweb/>

The [[Bernard E. Wilmoth House]] in Belington is a historic house listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

==Geography==
Belington is located at {{coord|39|1|33|N|79|56|17|W|type:town}} (39.025706, -79.938166).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

The town has a total area of {{convert|2.13|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.07|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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 430
|1910= 1481
|1920= 1766
|1930= 1571
|1940= 1517
|1950= 1699
|1960= 1528
|1970= 1567
|1980= 2038
|1990= 1850
|2000= 1788
|2010= 1921
|2020= 1804
|estyear=2021
|estimate=1803
|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|publisher=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 1,921 people, 776 households, and 548 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|932.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 878 housing units at an average density of {{convert|426.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 776 households, of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.4% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the town was 40.9 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,788 people, 713 households, and 518 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|870.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}. There were 790 housing units at an average density of {{convert|384.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.66% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.06% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.17% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.06% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 1.01% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 713 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,154, and the median income for a family was $28,500. Males had a median income of $25,809 versus $15,050 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $12,905. About 18.3% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.9% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Climate==
The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Belington has a [[marine west coast climate]], abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=336064&cityname=Belington%2C+West+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Belington, West Virginia]</ref>
{{Weather box |location=Belington, West Virginia(1981-2010) |width =auto |single line = yes
|precipitation colour =green | unit precipitation days =0.01 inches | humidity colour = green

| Jan avg record high F  = 63
| Feb avg record high F  = 66
| Mar avg record high F  = 74
| Apr avg record high F  = 82
| May avg record high F  = 85
| Jun avg record high F  = 88
| Jul avg record high F  = 89
| Aug avg record high F  = 89
| Sep avg record high F  = 86
| Oct avg record high F  = 79
| Nov avg record high F  = 74
| Dec avg record high F  = 64
| Jan high F  =39.0
| Feb high F  =42.7
| Mar high F  =51.5
| Apr high F  =62.9
| May high F  =71.1
| Jun high F  =78.7
| Jul high F  =81.8
| Aug high F  =80.7
| Sep high F  =74.7
| Oct high F  =64.3
| Nov high F  =54.2
| Dec high F  =42.7
| Jan mean F  =29.0
| Feb mean F  =31.3
| Mar mean F  =39.1
| Apr mean F  =49.4
| May mean F  =57.7
| Jun mean F  =66.8
| Jul mean F  =70.2
| Aug mean F  =69.3
| Sep mean F  =62.3
| Oct mean F  =50.5
| Nov mean F  =42.3
| Dec mean F  =32.6
| Jan low F  =18.9
| Feb low F  =19.9
| Mar low F  =26.9
| Apr low F  =35.4
| May low F  =44.5
| Jun low F  =54.7
| Jul low F  =58.5
| Aug low F  =57.5
| Sep low F  =49.9
| Oct low F  =37.2
| Nov low F  =30.1
| Dec low F  =22.5
| Jan avg record low F  = -4
| Feb avg record low F  = -1
| Mar avg record low F  = 10
| Apr avg record low F  = 20
| May avg record low F  = 30
| Jun avg record low F  = 41
| Jul avg record low F  = 46
| Aug avg record low F  = 47
| Sep avg record low F  = 37
| Oct avg record low F  = 24
| Nov avg record low F  = 15
| Dec avg record low F  = 3

| Jan precipitation inch  =3.27
| Feb precipitation inch  =3.44
| Mar precipitation inch  =4.47
| Apr precipitation inch  =4.27
| May precipitation inch  =5.32
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.94
| Jul precipitation inch  =5.12
| Aug precipitation inch  =3.67
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.98
| Oct precipitation inch  =3.06
| Nov precipitation inch  =3.58
| Dec precipitation inch  =3.87
| Jan snow inch  =16.4
| Feb snow inch  =13.0
| Mar snow inch  =5.6
| Apr snow inch  =1.1
| 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  =0.2
| Nov snow inch  =1.9
| Dec snow inch  =8.6
| Jan snow depth inch  = 8
| Feb snow depth inch  = 6
| Mar snow depth inch  = 4
| Apr snow depth inch  = 1
| May snow depth inch  = 0
| Jun snow depth inch  = 0
| Jul snow depth inch  = 0
| Aug snow depth inch  = 0
| Sep snow depth inch  =0
| Oct snow depth inch  = 0
| Nov snow depth inch  = 1
| Dec snow depth inch  = 5
| Jan precipitation days  =15
| Feb precipitation days  =14
| Mar precipitation days  =14
| Apr precipitation days  =14
| May precipitation days  =13
| Jun precipitation days  =12
| Jul precipitation days  =11
| Aug precipitation days  =10
| Sep precipitation days  =10
| Oct precipitation days  =9
| Nov precipitation days  =11
| Dec precipitation days  =17
| unit snow days =  0.01 inches
| Jan snow days  =8
| Feb snow days  =6
| Mar snow days  =3
| Apr snow days  =1
| May snow days  =0
| Jun snow days  =0
| Jul snow days  =0
| Aug snow days  =0
| Sep snow days  =0
| Oct snow days  =0
| Nov snow days  =1
| Dec snow days  =5

| Jan humidity    =84
| Feb humidity    =84
| Mar humidity    =81
| Apr humidity    =79
| May humidity    =79
| Jun humidity    =78
| Jul humidity    =78
| Aug humidity    =78
| Sep humidity    =79
| Oct humidity    =80
| Nov humidity    =78
| Dec humidity    =83

| Jan sun  =105.4
| Feb sun  =115.8
| Mar sun  =176.7
| Apr sun  =234
| May sun  =269.7
| Jun sun  =288
| Jul sun  =297.6
| Aug sun  =297
| Sep sun  =255
| Oct sun  =170.5
| Nov sun  =153
| Dec sun  =124
| Jand sun  =3.4
| Febd sun  =4.1
| Mard sun  =5.7
| Aprd sun  =7.8
| Mayd sun  =8.7
| Jund sun  =9.6
| Juld sun  =9.6
| Augd sun  =9.9
| Sepd sun  =8.5
| Octd sun  =5.5
| Novd sun  =5.1
| Decd sun  =4
| Jan light = 9.8
| Feb light = 10.8
| Mar light = 12
| Apr light = 13.3
| May light = 14.3
| Jun light = 14.9
| Jul light = 14.6
| Aug light = 13.6
| Sep light = 12.4
| Oct light = 11.2
| Nov light = 10
| Dec light = 9.5
| Jan uv  =2
| Feb uv  =2
| Mar uv  =2
| Apr uv  =4
| May uv  =5
| Jun uv  =5
| Jul uv  =5
| Aug uv  =5
| Sep uv  =4
| Oct uv  =3
| Nov uv  =2
| Dec uv  =2
|source = National Weather service<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=rlx |website=weather.gov |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=September 6, 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Weather atlas(Humidity - Sunshine - UV)<ref>{{cite web |title=Yearly & Monthly Weather - Belington, WV |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/west-virginia-usa/belington-climate |website=weather atlas |access-date=September 6, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==See also==
* [[The Golden Rule (Belington, West Virginia)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Barbour County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Barbour County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Tygart Valley River]]