Editing McMechen, West Virginia

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

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Marshall County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas McMechen Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of McMechen in Marshall 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        = {{flagicon image||size=23px}} [[Marshall County, West Virginia|Marshall]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = David Goddard 
|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           = 2.16
|area_land_km2            = 1.48
|area_water_km2           = 0.69
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.84
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.57
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.27

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_est           = 1680
|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=2 July 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 1714
|population_density_km2   = 1147.92
|population_density_sq_mi = 2971.98

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 207
|elevation_ft             = 679
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|59|14|N|80|43|53|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 26040
|area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 54-50260<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              = 1543032<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                  = {{URL|https://cityofmcmechen.com/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
}}
'''McMechen''' is a city in [[Marshall County, West Virginia|Marshall County]], [[West Virginia]], United States, situated along the [[Ohio River]]. It is part of the [[Wheeling, West Virginia]] [[Wheeling metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 1,714 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>

==History==
McMechen is named after William McMechen and his family, pioneer settlers.<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=422;size=125|year=1945|publisher=The Place Name Press|location=Piedmont, WV|page=394}}</ref>

The [[McMechen Lockmaster Houses on the Ohio River]] were listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1992.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2009a}}</ref>

McMechen was incorporated in 1905.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://local.wv.gov/McMechen/Pages/about.aspx|title = About Us}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.84|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.57|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.27|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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</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, McMechen has a [[Humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=748564&cityname=McMechen%2C+West+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for McMechen, West Virginia]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 427
|1900= 1465
|1910= 2921
|1920= 3356
|1930= 3710
|1940= 3726
|1950= 3518
|1960= 2999
|1970= 2808
|1980= 2402
|1990= 2130
|2000= 1937
|2010= 1926
|2020= 1714
|estyear=2021
|estimate=1680
|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 1,926 people, 856 households, and 516 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3378.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 971 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1703.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% 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 856 households, of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.7% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 41.6 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 28.4% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,937 people, 865 households, and 559 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was 3,352.4 people per square mile (1,289.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 953 housing units at an average density of 1,649.4 per square mile (634.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 98.55% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.10% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.10% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.15% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.72% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 865 households, out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% 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 2.81.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,179, and the median income for a family was $33,080. Males had a median income of $27,357 versus $16,862 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,935. About 15.6% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 43.1% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[Marshall County Schools (West Virginia)|Marshall County Schools]] operates public schools.
* Center McMechen Elementary School.

==Notable people==
* [[Charles Manson]], spent part of his childhood in McMechen.
* [[George D. Wallace]], actor; spent teen years in McMechen.<ref>{{cite web | last = McLellan | first = Dennis | title = George D. Wallace, 88; Actor With Baritone Voice Had Film, TV and Broadway Roles | work = Los Angeles Times | date =July 27, 2005 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jul-27-me-wallace27-story.html}}</ref>
* [[Alvena Sečkar]], painter and author born in McMechen

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book
|author= Culbertson, Charles
|title=Hellbent: The Life of Confederate Cavalryman William Meade McMechen
|publisher= Clarion Publishing 
|year= 2014
|isbn= 978-0988714595
}}

==See also==
* [[List of cities and towns along the Ohio River]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.local.wv.gov/mcmechen/Pages/default.aspx City of McMechen]

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

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Marshall County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:West Virginia populated places on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:Cities in West Virginia]]