Editing Nitro, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Nitro, West Virginia
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = Living Memorial to World War I
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Living Memorial Park.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Living Memorial Park in Nitro, WV
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = Seal of Nitro, West Virginia.png
| image_map                = File:Kanawha County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Nitro Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 300px
| map_caption              = Location of Nitro in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|West Virginia}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in West Virginia|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]], [[Putnam County, West Virginia|Putnam]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = Municipal Government
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Dave Casebolt
| leader_title1            = Treasurer
| leader_name1             = John Young
| 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           = 15.07
| area_land_km2            = 13.58
| area_water_km2           = 1.49
| area_total_sq_mi         = 5.82
| area_land_sq_mi          = 5.24
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.58
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est           = 6518
| 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=3 July 2022}}</ref>
| population_total         = 6618
| population_density_km2   = 469.29
| population_density_sq_mi = 1215.53
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 181
| elevation_ft             = 594
| coordinates              = {{coord|38|24|55|N|81|49|52|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 25143
| area_code                = [[Area code 304|304/681]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 54-59068
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1555228<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|http://www.cityofnitro.org/|cityofnitro.org}}
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Nitro''' is a city in [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]] and [[Putnam County, West Virginia|Putnam]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[West Virginia]]. It takes its name from a [[World War I]] era [[nitrocellulose]] plant. The population was 6,618 according to the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> It is part of the [[Charleston metropolitan area, West Virginia|Charleston metropolitan area]].

==History==
Nitro was [[incorporation (municipal government)|incorporated]] in 1932 by [[Circuit Court]]. The name Nitro derives from [[nitrocellulose]], the main ingredient in smokeless gunpowder.<ref>Wintz, William. Nitro, The World War 1 Boom Town. South Charleston, WV: Jalamap Publications, 1985</ref> The Nitro area was to be the American ammunition production facility during [[World War I|World War{{nbsp}}I]].  [[Daniel C. Jackling]] "supervised the construction and operation" of the plant, which by the time of the armistice "was producing one hundred thousand pounds of high explosives per day."<ref name="Hawley">{{Cite book |author=Charles Caldwell Hawley |title=A Kennecott Story |publisher=The University of Utah Press |year=2014 |pages=97–98}}</ref>

Its name was selected by the [[United States]] government because of the establishment there, during World War{{nbsp}}I, of a large federal plant for the manufacture of explosives. The city is known as "a Living Memorial to World War{{nbsp}}I."

==Geography==
Nitro is located primarily in Kanawha County. The city lies across the Kanawha River from the city of [[St. Albans, West Virginia|St. Albans]] to the south, and is adjacent to the [[census-designated place]] of [[Cross Lanes, West Virginia|Cross Lanes]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.67|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.28|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.39|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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-02-20 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2013-01-24 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1940= 2983
|1950= 3314
|1960= 6894
|1970= 8019
|1980= 8074
|1990= 6851
|2000= 6824
|2010= 7178
|2020= 6618
|estyear=2021
|estimate=6518
|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=August 27, 2013}}</ref><br />2014 Estimate<ref name="2014 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014-3.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 19, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522132816/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014-3.html|archive-date=May 22, 2015}}</ref>
}}
Nitro is a part of the [[Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area]] (MSA). As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 287,702. New definitions from February 28, 2013, placed the population at 363,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf|title=Population statistics|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319014422/http://m.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf|archive-date=2013-03-19}}</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 7,178 people, 3,250 households, and 1,914 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1677.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,507 housing units at an average density of {{convert|819.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 3,250 households, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the city was 40.5 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 6,824 people, 3,015 households, and 1,935 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,821.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 3,217 housing units at an average density of {{convert|858.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.64% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.63% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.25% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.25% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.40% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.84% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 3,015 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.80.

The age distribution was 20.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,389, and the median income for a family was $41,367. Males had a median income of $30,086 versus $21,932 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,453. About 7.3% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[File:Nitro High School.jpg|thumb|[[Nitro High School]]]]
The city's public school students do not all attend the same schools, because West Virginia school districts are divided strictly along county lines, without regard to city boundaries.

Kanawha County residents are served by the following schools in the city:
* Nitro Elementary School (public)
* [[Nitro High School]] (public)

There is no public middle school in Nitro on either side of the county line, nor is there any public school within the Putnam County portion of the city. Middle school students in Kanawha County must bus to Andrew Jackson Middle School in Cross Lanes. Putnam County students must bus to Rock Branch Elementary, Poca Middle, and Poca High.

==Environment==
The reach of the Kanawha River Valley between Belle and Nitro is known locally as the "Chemical Valley", which, at its peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s, was the leading producer of chemicals in the world (Henry, 1974). During World War{{nbsp}}I the government built an $80 million complex in Nitro to manufacture explosives and chemicals for the war effort.

The site was located on an {{convert|1800|acre|km2|adj=on}} cow pasture on the Kanawha River on the flat river valley floodplain. The facility had just been placed in operation when the war ended in November 1918. The first shipment of powder was also the last. Local authorities then sought various chemical companies to occupy the facility which had excellent infrastructure in utilities, transportation and new housing for workers. It was hoped that the former gunpowder complex would become a major chemical manufacturing center, especially for the emerging dye industry in the U.S. that relied on coal and coke by-products as feedstock.

The Kanawha River and water in the adjacent alluvium have been adversely affected by industrial activities (Messinger, 1997).<ref>http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri004020/pdf/wri00-4020.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

The chemical manufacturing history of Nitro resulted in environmental impairment, including the Fike/Artel Chemical Site (EPA ID: WVD047989207), which is on the National Priorities List [[Superfund (environmental law)|Superfund]]. The {{convert|12|acre|m2|adj=on}} site was placed on the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] National Priorities List in 1983. The site is a former World War{{nbsp}}I chemical munitions plant at which subsequent chemical manufacturing, reclamation and disposal was allegedly conducted.

The Solutia Inc. Nitro Plant, located on the east bank of the Kanawha River approximately one-half mile north of the City of Nitro in Putnam County, is being investigated through the [[Resource Conservation and Recovery Act|RCRA]] program. From 1918 to 1921, the facility manufactured explosives including "nitro-powder" to support World War{{nbsp}}I. When explosives manufacturing processes ceased, the facility was purchased and used for a variety of industries. In 1971, the buildings were used by a heavy chemical company [[Fike Chemical]] and further investigation showed improper waste remediation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stevens |first1=William K. |title=Saga of a Waste Cleanup: 12 Years and Counting |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/28/us/saga-of-a-waste-cleanup-12-years-and-counting.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=27 September 2023 |date=28 October 1988}}</ref> RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3 and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.<ref>Region 3 GPRA Baseline RCRA Corrective Action Facility, http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/ca/wv/pdf/wvd039990965.pdf</ref>

Other RCRA Corrective Action facilities include Great Lakes Chemicals Company (formerly FMC Corporation) <ref>Region 3 GRPA Baseline RCRA Corrective Action Facility, http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/ca/wv/pdf/wvd005005087.pdf</ref> and Union Carbide Corp. - PTO (a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/ca/wv/pdf/wvd000739722.pdf|title=Corrective Action Programs around the Nation - US EPA|first=US|last=EPA,OSWER,ORCR,PIID|website=US EPA|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>

Due to manufacturing activities, Nitro became known for a distinctive chemical smell—especially in the area of the I-64 bridge. However, the recent shift away from manufacturing in the region has significantly reduced air pollution issues.

===Agent Orange===
In February 2012, Monsanto agreed to settle a case covering dioxin contamination around a plant in Nitro that had made [[Agent Orange]]. Monsanto agreed to pay up to $9 million for cleanup of affected homes, $84 million for medical monitoring of people affected, and the community's legal fees.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-02-24/monsanto-says-it-settled-west-virginia-lawsuits-over-nitro-plant|title=Monsanto Settles West Virginia Lawsuits Over Nitro Plant|last=Kaskey|first=Jack|date=February 24, 2012|publisher=Bloomburg|access-date=26 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Ken|title=Supreme Court affirms Monsanto pollution settlement in Nitro|url=http://www.wvgazettemail.com/News/201311220094|access-date=30 August 2015|publisher=Charleston Gazette-Mail|date=22 Nov 2013}}</ref>

===Scientific Research Activities===
In 2001 [[Clonaid]] operated a lab in Nitro that was tied to the [[Raelians]]. It was located inside a rented room within a former high school. The FDA said that the equipment in the lab was state-of-the-art and had been bought by former West Virginia state legislator [[Mark Hunt (politician)|Mark Hunt]].<ref name="For Clonaid, a Trail of Unproven Claims">[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05EEDD133FF932A35752C0A9659C8B63 For Clonaid, a Trail of Unproven Claims], ''[[New York Times]]''. Retrieved 11 October 2007.</ref>

===Cancer Cluster===
For over 50 years, the Monsanto plant in Nitro, West Virginia, created dioxin waste while producing herbicides, Agent Orange (during the Vietnam War), and different forms of rubber. Recent and past literature has established a link between the Monsanto plant and increased cancer cases within the region. Although evidence seems to support the occurrence of clustering within the Nitro and Saint Albans areas, further epidemiological and spatial studies are required.<ref>"Spatial Outcomes of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Southern West Virginia".[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7733764/], Cureus, 12 November 2020.</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Major League Baseball]] player [[Lew Burdette]] was born in Nitro in 1926.
* Country singer [[Kathy Mattea]], who grew up in nearby [[Cross Lanes, West Virginia|Cross Lanes]], is a graduate of Nitro High School.
* [[J. R. House]], who played for several MLB teams in the early 2000s, was a record-setting quarterback at Nitro High from 1996 through 1998.
* Actor [[Clark Gable]] worked at "Explosive Plant C" in Nitro in 1918.
* Major League Baseball umpire [[Larry Barnett]] was born in Nitro in 1945
* [[Father Chapin]], a [[Roman Catholic]] [[priest]] and television personality, broadcasts his weekly show ''Daily Living'' from Nitro.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.cityofnitro.org/ City website]
* [http://www.wvculture.org/history/thisdayinwvhistory/0102.html Founding of Nitro]

{{Kanawha County, West Virginia}}
{{Putnam County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Cities in Kanawha County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Cities in Putnam County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Kanawha River]]
[[Category:Charleston, West Virginia metropolitan area]]