Editing Matewan, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Matewan, West Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = <!-- Images -->
|image_skyline          = View_of_Downtown_Historic_District_Matewan_West_Virginia_(2018).jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Matewan, West Virginia.
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Mingo County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Matewan Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Matewan in Mingo 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        = [[Mingo County, West Virginia|Mingo]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             =<!-- Mayor -->
|leader_name              = Matt Moore
|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           = 1.43
|area_land_km2            = 1.43
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.55
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.55
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_est           =  
|pop_est_as_of            =  
|population_footnotes     = <ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
|population_total         = 412
|population_density_km2   =  
|population_density_sq_mi =  

<!-- 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|37|37|23|N|82|9|59|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 25678
|area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 54-52324<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              = 1542862<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                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse"/>
}}
'''Matewan''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|eɪ|t|w|ɒ|n}}) is a town in [[Mingo County, West Virginia|Mingo County]], [[West Virginia]], United States at the [[confluence]] of the [[Tug Fork River]] and [[Mate Creek]]. The population was 412 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], down from 499 in 2010.<ref>US Census Bureau, 2020 Results, Matewan town, West Virginia</ref>  The [[Norfolk Southern Railway]]'s Pocahontas District passes through the town. It was a key site of the [[Coal Wars]] and the location of the [[Battle of Matewan]] in 1920.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.56|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
|align=left
|1910= 588
|1920= 851
|1930= 932
|1940= 905
|1950= 989
|1960= 896
|1970= 651
|1980= 822
|1990= 619
|2000= 498
|2010= 499
|2020= 412
|estyear= 
|estimate= 
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
|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><ref>US Census Bureau, 2020 Results, Matewan town, West Virginia https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Matewan%20town,%20West%20Virginia</ref> 
}}
[[Image:Matewan West Virginia aerial view.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Aerial view of Matewan]]

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 499 people, 261 households, and 117 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|891.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 301 housing units at an average density of {{convert|537.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 91.6% White, 6.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6%.<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 261 households 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.4% were married couples living together, 10.3%         had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 55.2% were non-families. 52.5% of households were one person and 15.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age in the town was 45.4 years. 17.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 32.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 42.5% male and 57.5% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 498 people, 253 households, and 124 families living in the town. The population density was 989.2 inhabitants per square mile (384.6/km{{sup|2}}). There were 277 housing units at an average density of 550.2 per square mile (213.9/km{{sup|2}}).  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 94.78% White, 3.61% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.20% Asian, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00%.<ref name="GR2" />

Of the 253 households 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 48.6% of households were one person and 13.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 17.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% 65 or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median household income was $13,529 and the median family income was $27,188. Males had a median income of $25,500 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,586. About 16.8% of families and 31.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

==History==
"Mate Creek Post Office" was established on February 18, 1875. Early postmasters included Joseph Murphy (February 18, 1875) and Elias Hatfield (January 13, 1882).<ref>{{cite web |title=Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 |url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/990706:1932 |website=Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |access-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref> The latter was a brother to [[Devil Anse Hatfield|William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield]], father to future West Virginia governor [[Henry Drury Hatfield]], and participant in the [[Hatfield-McCoy Feud]].

By 1885, Mate Creek PO was discontinued and replaced by "Sidney Post Office". Elliot Rutherford, a Logan County sheriff, was postmaster beginning on September 3, 1885.<ref>{{cite web |title=Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 |url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/990828:1932 |website=Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |access-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref>

[[Image:Matewan West Virginia floodwall.jpg|thumb|right|The floodwall along the Tug Fork River in Matewan depicts the [[Hatfield-McCoy feud]]]]
In 1890, Erskine Hazard, a civil engineer from the [[Norfolk and Western Railway]], laid out the town and drafted the first map of the community. The town was named after Matteawan (now called [[Beacon, New York|Beacon]]), a town in [[Dutchess County]], [[Upstate New York]].<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=433;size=125|year=1945|publisher=The Place Name Press|location=Piedmont, WV|page=405}}</ref> Local residents, however, changed the spelling and pronunciation.<ref>[http://www.matewan.com/Town/names%20origin.htm Origins of Matewan, West Virginia]</ref> Early postmasters for Matewan included Elliot Rutherford (January 13, 1893), George R. Buskirk (May 1, 1894), George Bonzo (May 17, 1897), Mary White (December 23, 1904), A.L. Hatfield (January 26, 1915), Emma Chafin (August 2, 1921), Mary White (November 17, 1921), and Neville L. Chancey (June 20, 1930).<ref>{{cite web |title=Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 |url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/602081:1932 |website=Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |access-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref>

Attempts to unionize by [[coal mining|coal miners]] in 1920 led to the [[Battle of Matewan]] between miners and [[Baldwin-Felts]] detectives, which was the inspiration for the 1987 [[film|movie]] ''[[Matewan]]''. The town's history is on display at the Matewan Depot, which includes a small museum. The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum, housed in a building owned by the [[United Mine Workers of America]], provides history for the mine wars.<ref>{{cite web |title=West Virginia Mine Wars Museum |url=https://wvminewars.org/ |website=West Virginia Mine Wars Museum |access-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Sam Church]], labor union leader
* [[John Hendricks]], founder and former chairman of [[Discovery Communications]]; founder of [[CuriosityStream]]
* [[Sid Hatfield]], police chief, famous for supporting miners in the Matewan Massacre

==Attractions==
Because of its rich history ([[Hatfield-McCoy feud]] and [[Battle of Matewan|Matewan Massacre]]), the center of the town was designated the [[Matewan Historic District]], a National Historic Landmark.  Interesting sights and tours can be had while visiting the town.

The [[Hatfield-McCoy Trails]] opened a trail head in Matewan.  Trail Riders can now easily access the trail system while staying in town.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080113150953/http://www.matewan.com/ Matewan.com]

{{Mingo County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Mingo County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Appalachian culture]]
[[Category:Coal towns in West Virginia]]
[[Category:West Virginia populated places on the Tug Fork]]