Editing Mannington, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Mannington, West Virginia
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = File:Mannington Historic District Southside Bridge.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = [[Mannington Historic District]], September 2023
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Marion County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Mannington Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 260px
| map_caption        = Location of Mannington in Marion County, West Virginia.

<!-- 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  = [[Marion County, West Virginia|Marion]]

<!-- 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     = 2.95
| area_land_km2      = 2.83
| area_water_km2     = 0.12
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.14
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.09
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.05

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est     = 1946
| 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=3 July 2022}}</ref>
| population_total   = 1961
| population_density_km2 = 714.74
| population_density_sq_mi = 1850.87

<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 297
| elevation_ft       = 974
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|31|38|N|80|20|23|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 26582
| area_code          = [[Area code 304|304/681]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 54-51100<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1542721<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website            = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
}}

'''Mannington''' is a city in [[Marion County, West Virginia]], United States, located in the hills of [[North Central West Virginia]]. The population was 1,961 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]. In its earliest years it was called Forks of Buffalo or Koon Town, but has been called Mannington since 1856.

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}

===Early history===
At the time of the first settlement, the west fork of Buffalo Creek was known as Warrior's Fork, while the North Fork has historically borne the name of Pyle's Fork. One of the first settlers in the area was John Ice, who was born in the valley of the South Branch of the [[Potomac River]] in what was then Virginia. As a child, Ice and his father searched in vain for his mother, two sisters and brother who had been captured by Native Americans. The mother was never found, although the children ultimately were. Only John's brother, known from then on as "Indian Billy" returned to the family. The sisters chose to remain with their one time captors (Prichard 1983).

Native American activity was not uncommon in the area and many settlers and travelers met their fate at the hands of the Native Americans, including John Madison, the cousin of [[James Madison]] the future president, who was killed on a surveying trip in the area in 1783. Although not necessarily as a result of this, [[James Madison]] did procure, as an investment, some land on Brush Run and Pyles Fork just north of Forks of Buffalo.

The earliest population concentration did not occur in what is now Mannington, but rather approximately two miles west of Dent's Run. Most of the land now falling within the city limits, some {{convert|1360|acre|km2}}, was owned by Robert Rutherford, a Revolutionary War financier and an intimate friend of [[George Washington]]. In 1799, Rutherford sold his Forks of Buffalo holdings to James Brown of [[Berkeley County, West Virginia|Berkeley County]], Virginia, who, after experiencing financial setbacks, eventually sold the property at public sale in 1824 to a group of [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], investors which included William Baker. Baker apparently bought out his partners and, in turn, sold the parcel to James Hanway, a surveyor living in Monongalia County, who parceled the land and began selling it. This final transaction occurred in 1840 and it was then that the area now known as Mannington had its genesis.

After the parceling of the land around the Forks of Buffalo, interest in the area increased as did the population. A number of log houses began to be built, with the accompanying entrepreneurial activities that one might expect in an early settlement. By 1850 a tavern owned by George and Samuel Koon appeared in the heart of the burgeoning town. Not long after the tavern was opened, the Forks of Buffalo began to be known as Koon Town. While the local inhabitants may have used the newer name, the United States government failed to do so, in 1850 naming their first postal office in the community the Forks of Buffalo Post Office. It was not until 1856 that the village officially became known as Mannington, named after Charles Manning, a civil engineer with the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad|Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad]]. Manning was well liked by the community and the inhabitants were eager to have a more "dignified" name for a growing town on the new railroad line.

The coming of the railroad heralded the introduction of heavier industry in the Mannington area. [[Logging]] and [[coal mining|coal]] were two of the obvious industries which were developed along the railroad line, but there were a great many peripheral industries which appeared as well. Tree bark was used by the [[tanneries]], which, in turn, produced a wide range of leather goods. New planing mills, [[sawmill]]s, and woodworking plants were started, and the availability of transportation also witnessed an increase in cattle, sheep and crop production.

During the [[American Civil War]], the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad|B&O]] railroad, of vital interest to both of the conflicting sides, sustained more damage than Mannington proper did. While [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] forces succeeded in burning several of the railroad bridges at the very beginning of the conflict, reinforcements from the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] insured the integrity of the Mannington section of the line for the remainder of the war.

===Oil and gas boom===
A new chapter in Mannington's history began in 1889 with the first oil drilling, following recommendations made by Dr. [[Israel C. White]], a well-known geologist who later became West Virginia State Geologist. Although many felt that the area was unfavorable for [[oil reserves]], White persisted and soon gained enough local support to drill. Following the first strike, late in 1889, real estate prices soared 100% in two days in a boom-town mentality. The Mannington field became one of the largest in the state, with the largest well producing about {{convert|1600|oilbbl/d}}.

Dr. White also pushed for [[natural gas]] exploration. It was this venture, more successful than any before or since, that was most responsible for Mannington's growth. The population increased from approximately 700 people in the late 19th century to over 4,000 by 1917. By 1900, Mannington was a thriving town, complete with its own trolley system, electricity, theaters, schools, fire department, telephones and other amenities. The Mannington School Building, constructed in 1902–1903, was the pride of both the town and the state. In 1923, Albert Heck began the formation of the first community radio cable system from Mannington to its outlying areas.

===Boom to bust===
The 1929 [[stock market crash]] and the [[Great Depression|Depression]] severely affected Mannington's economy. The trolley ceased operation in 1933, factory workers left as demand for products decreased, and the town's population began to decline.

==Geography==
Mannington is located at {{coord|39|31|38|N|80|20|23|W|type:city}} (39.527340, -80.339742),<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=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along [[Buffalo Creek (Monongahela River)|Buffalo Creek]].<ref>{{cite book| title= West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer |year=1997 |publisher= [[DeLorme]] |location=Yarmouth, Me. |isbn= 0-89933-246-3 |page= 25}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.15|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.10|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|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=2013-01-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2011-02-20}}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Mannington has a [[Humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=126564&cityname=Mannington%2C+West+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Mannington, West Virginia]</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Mannington, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1980–present)
|single line = Yes
| Jan record high F = 75
| Feb record high F = 80
| Mar record high F = 88
| Apr record high F = 93
| May record high F = 94
| Jun record high F = 97
| Jul record high F = 103
| Aug record high F = 100
| Sep record high F = 98
| Oct record high F = 93
| Nov record high F = 82
| Dec record high F = 75
| year record high F = 103
| Jan high F = 38.3
| Feb high F = 42.1
| Mar high F = 52.4
| Apr high F = 65.7
| May high F = 74.1
| Jun high F = 80.9
| Jul high F = 84.1
| Aug high F = 83.1
| Sep high F = 77.1
| Oct high F = 65.7
| Nov high F = 52.8
| Dec high F = 42.5
| year high F = 63.2
| Jan mean F = 28.5
| Feb mean F = 31.2
| Mar mean F = 39.7
| Apr mean F = 51.0
| May mean F = 60.4
| Jun mean F = 68.1
| Jul mean F = 72.1
| Aug mean F = 70.7
| Sep mean F = 63.8
| Oct mean F = 52.2
| Nov mean F = 41.1
| Dec mean F = 33.2
| year mean F = 51.0
| Jan low F = 18.7
| Feb low F = 20.3
| Mar low F = 27.1
| Apr low F = 36.2
| May low F = 46.7
| Jun low F = 53.3
| Jul low F = 60.0
| Aug low F = 58.3
| Sep low F = 50.5
| Oct low F = 38.7
| Nov low F = 29.4
| Dec low F = 23.9
| year low F = 38.8
| Jan record low F = -34
| Feb record low F = -21
| Mar record low F = -13
| Apr record low F = 12
| May record low F = 25
| Jun record low F = 25
| Jul record low F = 32
| Aug record low F = 34
| Sep record low F = 22
| Oct record low F = 14
| Nov record low F = 4
| Dec record low F = -24
| year record low F = -34
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 4.41
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.99
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.36
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.32
| May precipitation inch = 4.92
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.44
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.64
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.10
| Sep precipitation inch = 4.17
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.37
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.57
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.15
| year precipitation inch = 51.44
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 18.2
| Feb precipitation days = 15.9
| Mar precipitation days = 14.1
| Apr precipitation days = 15.4
| May precipitation days = 15.1
| Jun precipitation days = 13.1
| Jul precipitation days = 12.6
| Aug precipitation days = 10.9
| Sep precipitation days = 10.5
| Oct precipitation days = 10.7
| Nov precipitation days = 12.7
| Dec precipitation days = 16.7
| year precipitation days = 165.9
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=nws>{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pbz
| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 13, 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=USC00465626&format=pdf
| title = Station: Mannington 8 WNW, WV
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 13, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 241
|1870= 411
|1890= 908
|1900= 1681
|1910= 2672
|1920= 3673
|1930= 3261
|1940= 3145
|1950= 3241
|1960= 2996
|1970= 2747
|1980= 3036
|1990= 2184
|2000= 2124
|2010= 2063
|2020= 1961
|estyear=2021
|estimate=1946
|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=2013-01-24}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,063 people, 842 households, and 578 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1875.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 964 housing units at an average density of {{convert|876.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 842 households, of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.4% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 41.8 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,124 people, 884 households, and 625 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,823.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 990 housing units at an average density of {{convert|850.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 83.9% [[White American|White]],2.54% [[African American]], 0.42% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.19% [[Asian American|Asian]], and 0.71% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 0.33% of the population.

There were 884 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,806, and the median income for a family was $31,852. Males had a median income of $25,078 versus $19,464 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,036. About 12.7% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 37.1% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Infrastructure==
===Roads===
* [[File:US 250.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 250 in West Virginia|U.S. Route 250]] - main road through town

==In popular culture==
Mannington is the model for the fictional town of [[Grantville (1632 series)|Grantville]] in [[Eric Flint]]'s best selling [[1632 series|''1632'' series]] of [[alternate history]] novels: ''[[1632 (novel)|1632]]'', ''[[1633 (novel)|1633]]'', ''[[Ring of Fire (anthology)|Ring of Fire]]'', ''[[The Grantville Gazette]]'', and other book-length and shorter works.<ref>''[https://locusmag.com/2016/12/eric-flint-remaking-history Eric Flint: Remaking History]'', Locus Magazine, Issue 671, page 10. December 2016.</ref>  The ''[[1632 series]]'' has evolved into a large-scale experiment in [[collaborative fiction]] and has attracted considerable interest from other best selling writers, including [[David Weber]] and [[Mercedes Lackey]].<ref>[https://1632.org 1632 Author's Manual]. Retrieved 2021-10-19.</ref><ref>[https://www.baen.com/interviews/intdemarce Interview with Virginia DeMarce]. Baen Books. March 2006. Retrieved 2021-10-19.</ref> The premise of the series is that, in about April 2000, irresponsible aliens (accidentally) exchanged a sphere with a radius of about {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} centered on Grantville with an equally sized chunk of [[Thuringia]] from 1631, plunging the town into the midst of the [[Thirty Years' War]].<ref>[https://www.baen.com/1632.html 1632]. Eric Flint. Baen Books. February 2000.</ref>

Mannington continues to be used as a detailed model for the series in order to determine realistically what resources and skill sets the town of Grantville would bring to the past.<ref>[https://marioncvb.com/eric-flint/ Grantville Gets Transported Back To 1632]. Marion County Convention & Visitors Bureau. July 31, 2020. Retrieved 2021-10-19.</ref> Flint has stated, "The town of Grantville is very closely modeled on the actual town of Mannington. There are rules that I require everyone to follow when they write in the series. One of them is that it if it wasn’t in the town of Mannington in 2000, you can’t have it in Grantville. The one cheat I had to do was that I needed a power plant. The power plant is about 15 miles away, in a town called Granttown, so I just sorta moved it over. That’s the only real cheat.”<ref>[https://locusmag.com/2016/12/eric-flint-remaking-history/ "Eric Flint: Remaking History"] December 4, 2016 ''[[Locus (magazine)|Locus]]'' magazine website</ref> The fans and writers of the [[1632 series]] have held at least four conventions in Mannington. The fourth was held on August 4&ndash;6, 2006.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101103004922/http://www.1632.org/community/minicon2006.html Mini-Con 2006. Kim Mackey. Retrieved 2021-10-19.]</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of cities in West Virginia]]
* [[Farmington Mine Disaster]] (sometimes referred to as the '''Mannington Mine Disaster'''), 20 November 1968, 4 men survived, 78 died.
* [[Fairmont Marion County Transit Authority]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mannington, West Virginia}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Marion County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Cities in Marion County, West Virginia]]