Editing Chester, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Chester, West Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Teapot building, Chester, West Virginia LCCN2017704039.tif
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = [[Chester teapot]]
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Hancock County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Chester Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 200px
|map_caption              = Location of Chester in Hancock County, West Virginia.
|pushpin_map              = West Virginia#USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in West Virginia##Location in the United States
|pushpin_relief           = yes
|pushpin_label            = Chester

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[West Virginia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in West Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Hancock County, West Virginia|Hancock]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Ed Wedgewood
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|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           = 2.59
|area_land_km2            = 2.59
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.00
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 2173
|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         = 2214
|population_density_km2   = 915.53
|population_density_sq_mi = 2371.37

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 215
|elevation_ft             = 705
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|36|46|N|80|33|46|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 26034
|area_code                = [[Area codes 304 and 681|304, 681]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 54-15076<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              = 1537260<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|website                  = http://chesterwv.org/
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
}}
'''Chester''' is a city in [[Hancock County, West Virginia]], United States. The population was 2,214 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> It is located along the [[Ohio River]] in [[Northern panhandle of West Virginia|the state's northern panhandle]] and is the northernmost city in West Virginia. Chester is part of the [[Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area]] and is home to the [[Chester teapot|World's Largest Teapot]] attraction.

==History==
[[File:Chester municipal building.jpg|thumb|left|The Chester Municipal Building, originally Chester High School]]

Chester was established in 1896, but not incorporated until 1907.<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=963}}</ref> The town was established by [[East Liverpool, Ohio]] lawyer J.E. McDonald, and the name may be a transfer from [[Chester County, Pennsylvania]] or [[Chester, England]], although its true origin is unknown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2012/04/who-named-chester-and-when-was-it.html |title=Who Named Chester and When Was It Founded? |author=Joseph A. Comm |date=April 9, 2012 |accessdate=September 16, 2022 }}</ref> It was the home of [[Rock Springs Park]], a small [[amusement park]] founded in 1897 by McDonald, home to various rides, a swimming pool, a lake, a small zoo, and live performances.<ref name="Cashdollar">{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/hancock/history/chester.txt |title=Historical Chester: Historical Compilation by Roy Cashdollar |author=Roy Cashdollar |date=October 30, 1997 |accessdate=September 16, 2022 }}</ref> It closed in 1970 for the expansion of [[U.S. Route 30]] through the area.

The town grew in the early 20th century, led primarily by the pottery industry founded in nearby East Liverpool. The Taylor, Smith & Taylor Company was the leading manufacturer in Chester, employing over 800 people at one time.<ref name="Cashdollar" /> Another large employer was the steel-manufacturing Chester Rolling Mill Company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laurelhollowpark.net/chester/chesterrollingmill.html |title=Chester Rolling Mill Co. |author=LaurelHollowPark.net |accessdate=September 16, 2022 }}</ref>

The [[Chester teapot]], the town's main attraction, was purchased by Wilford Devon in 1938 and moved to Chester from [[Carnegie, Pennsylvania]]. It served as a barrel-shaped food stand with soft serve ice cream, hot dogs, and soft drinks until it was moved and remodeled to its current location in 1990 and has been featured in depictions of West Virginia, such as in the video game [[Fallout 76]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chester.lib.wv.us/teapot.html |title=History of "The World's Largest Teapot" |author=Lynn Murray Memorial Public Library |accessdate=September 16, 2022 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Chester is located at {{coord|40|36|46|N|80|33|46|W|type:city}} (40.612792, -80.562771).<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>  At the outbreak of hostilities of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] in April 1861, this location was part of [[Virginia]] and was the northernmost point in any slave state. Chester remains the northernmost point in the [[Southern United States]], as defined by the [[United States Census Bureau]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.00|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all  land.<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
|1910= 3184
|1920= 3283
|1930= 3701
|1940= 3805
|1950= 3758
|1960= 3787
|1970= 3614
|1980= 3297
|1990= 2905
|2000= 2592
|2010= 2585
|2020= 2214
|estyear=2021
|estimate=2173
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 17, 2015}}</ref><br>2012 Estimate<ref name="2012 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 26, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</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 2,585 people, 1,209 households, and 696 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2585.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,381 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1381.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 1,209 households, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.4% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age in the city was 43.2 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 20.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,592 people, 1,160 households, and 725 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was 2,705.1 people per square mile (1,042.5/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,289 housing units at an average density of 1,345.2 per square mile (518.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 98.77% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.15% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.31% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.54% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.12% of the population.

There were 1,160 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,550, and the median income for a family was $37,672. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $18,724 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,137. About 8.1% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Children in Chester are served by the Hancock County School District.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boe.hancock.k12.wv.us/ | title=Home - Hancock County Schools | publisher=Hancock County Schools | access-date=November 2, 2022}}</ref> The current schools serving Chester are:
* Allen T. Allison Elementary School – grades K-4
* Oak Glen Middle School – grades 5-8
* [[Oak Glen High School]] – grades 9-12

==Transportation==
[[File:Jennings Randolph Bridge.jpg|thumb|View of Chester's upper end and the [[Jennings Randolph Bridge]]]]

[[U.S. Route 30 in West Virginia|U.S. Route 30]] enters Chester via the [[Jennings Randolph Bridge]], which carries the route across the [[Ohio River]] from [[East Liverpool, Ohio]]. After about {{convert|0.4|mi|km}}, the highway has an interchange with [[West Virginia Route 2]] before exiting the city towards [[Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{google maps|title=Overview Map of U.S. Route 30 in West Virginia |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.6209789,-80.5632311/40.5922423,-80.5191141/@40.6084611,-80.555957,16z |access-date=March 30, 2025 }}</ref> WV 2 marks the city's main street, Carolina Avenue, and travels westward to [[Newell, West Virginia|Newell]].

==Notable people==
* [[Dale Baird]], American [[thoroughbred]] [[horse racing]] trainer, 15 time [[United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by wins|U.S. Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by wins]]
* [[Herb Coleman (center)|Herb Coleman]], [[American football]] [[Center (American football)|center]]
* [[Daniel Johnston]], significant [[Outsider music|outsider]] and [[Lo-fi music]] singer and songwriter, artist
* [[Jim Jordan (basketball)|Jim Jordan]], [[basketball]] player
* [[Win Mercer]], [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]]<ref name="The Baseball Encyclopedia">{{cite book |editor= Reichler, Joseph L. |title= The Baseball Encyclopedia |orig-year= 1969 |edition= 4th |year= 1979 |publisher= Macmillan Publishing |location= New York |isbn= 0-02-578970-8 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/baseballencyclop00reic }}</ref>
* [[Michael Paris]], WWE Wrestler
* [[Scott Paulsen]], radio personality, former host of ''[[The DVE Morning Show]]'' and columnist
* [[Randy Swartzmiller]], member of the [[West Virginia House of Delegates]] from the 1st district

==See also==
* [[List of cities and towns along the Ohio River]]
* [[Jennings Randolph Bridge]]
* [[Rock Springs Park]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130501191611/http://chester-wv.us/ City website]

{{Hancock County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}
{{Northern Panhandle of West Virginia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Hancock County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:West Virginia populated places on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:Cities in West Virginia]]
[[Category:1896 establishments in West Virginia]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1896]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]
[[Category:Chester, West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area]]