Editing Lester, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Lester, West Virginia
| settlement_type          = [[Town]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Lester-City-Hall-wv.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = City Hall in Lester
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = File:Raleigh County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lester Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of Lester in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
<!-- 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        = [[Raleigh County, West Virginia|Raleigh]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| 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           = 1.30
| area_land_km2            = 1.30
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi         = 0.50
| area_land_sq_mi          = 0.50
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est           = 333
| pop_est_as_of            = 2021
| pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
| 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         = 337
| population_density_km2   = 241.86
| population_density_sq_mi = 626.75

<!-- 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             = 2031
| coordinates              = {{coord|37|44|06|N|81|18|05|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 25865
| area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 54-46468<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              = 2391270<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2391270}}</ref>
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
| image_blank_emblem       = Logo of Lester, West Virginia.svg
| blank_emblem_type        = Logo
}}

'''Lester''' is a town in [[Raleigh County, West Virginia|Raleigh County]], [[West Virginia]], United States. The population was 337 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> The community was named after Champ Lester, a local pioneer.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kenny|first=Hamill|title=West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015009099824;view=1up;seq=397;size=125|year=1945|publisher=The Place Name Press|location=Piedmont, WV|page=369}}</ref>

==Geography==
Lester is located at {{coord|37|44|5|N|81|18|4|W|type:city}} (37.734740, -81.300985).<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 is situated along Surveyor Creek, which is part of the [[Coal River (West Virginia)|Coal River]] watershed, and is concentrated around the intersection of [[West Virginia Route 97|state routes 97]] and [[West Virginia Route 305|305]]. The latter highway connects the town with the [[Beckley, West Virginia|Beckley]] area a few miles to the east.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.50|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/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 412
|1930= 609
|1940= 909
|1950= 780
|1960= 626
|1970= 507
|1980= 626
|1990= 420
|2000= 322
|2010= 348
|2020= 337
|estyear=2021
|estimate=333
|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===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 348 people, 143 households, and 95 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|696.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 175 housing units at an average density of {{convert|350.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 83.9% White, 13.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3%.<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 the 143 households 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.7% of households were one person and 15.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the town was 40.1 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.1% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 322 people, 142 households, and 89 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|650.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}. There were 168 housing units at an average density of {{convert|339.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 79.81% White, 19.88% African American, and 0.31% from two or more races.<ref name="GR2" />
Of the 142 households 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.1% of households were one person and 19.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 20.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.

The median household income was $24,375 and the median family income was $30,938. Males had a median income of $25,208 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,026. About 14.6% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Lester, West Virginia}}

{{Raleigh County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Raleigh County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Coal towns in West Virginia]]