Editing Oakvale, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Oakvale, West Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Oakvale-RR-tracks-wv.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = View along the railroad tracks in Oakvale
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Mercer County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Oakvale Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location of Oakvale in Mercer 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        = [[Mercer County, West Virginia|Mercer]]

<!-- 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_total_km2           = 1.09
|area_land_km2            = 1.08
|area_water_km2           = 0.01
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.42
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.42
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|population_est           = 136
|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=July 3, 2022}}</ref>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_total         = 137
|population_density_km2   = 103.50
|population_density_sq_mi = 267.94

<!-- 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             = 1732
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|19|56|N|80|58|13|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 24739
|area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 54-60196<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              = 2391339<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2391339}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://local.wv.gov/oakvale/Pages/default.aspx}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Oakvale''' is a town in [[Mercer County, West Virginia|Mercer County]], [[West Virginia]], United States, along the [[East River (West Virginia)|East River]]. The population was 137 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> It is part of the [[Bluefield, West Virginia|Bluefield]], WV-[[Virginia|VA]] [[Bluefield micropolitan area|micropolitan area]] which has a population of 107,578.

==History==

Oakvale was originally known as "Frenchville" after an early settler, Captain Napoleon French.  It was renamed Oakvale after the dense stands of [[oak|oak trees]] that grew in the valley.<ref>Nancy Capace, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=K30UKW0aewgC&dq= Encyclopedia of West Virginia]'' (Somerset Publishers, 1999), p. 175.</ref>  The town incorporated in 1907.<ref>"[https://www.nwhs.org/convention/2013mullens/Twin%20Falls%20to%20Kelleysville.pdf Twin Falls to Kellysville and Return]," p. 6.  Norfolk and Western Historical Society website.  Accessed May 16, 2018.</ref>

==Geography==
The town is situated in a narrow valley along the [[East River (New River tributary)|East River]], a few miles west of the state line between [[Virginia]] and West Virginia.  [[West Virginia Route 112]] (Ingleside Road) traverses Oakvale, connecting the town with [[Bluefield, West Virginia|Bluefield]] to the southwest.  [[U.S. Route 460#Virginia and West Virginia|U.S. Route 460]] passes just north of the town.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.42|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
|1910= 278
|1920= 281
|1930= 261
|1940= 273
|1950= 239
|1960= 267
|1970= 292
|1980= 208
|1990= 165
|2000= 142
|2010= 121
|2020= 137
|estyear=2021
|estimate=136
|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>
}}
[[File:Oakvale-Town-Hall-wv.jpg|thumb|Oakvale Town Hall]]
===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 121 people, 49 households, and 31 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|288.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 55 housing units at an average density of {{convert|131.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 100.0% White.<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 49 households 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 22.4% of households were one person and 10.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the town was 41.9 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 52.1% male and 47.9% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 142 people, 58 households, and 45 families living in the town. The population density was 332.2 inhabitants per square mile (127.5/km{{sup|2}}). There were 65 housing units at an average density of 152.0 per square mile (58.4/km{{sup|2}}).  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 97.89% White, 1.41% African American, and 0.70% from two or more races.<ref name="GR2" />
Of the 58 households 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 20.7% of households were one person and 12.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.73.

The age distribution was 23.2% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median household income was $22,500 and the median family income  was $23,750. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,593. There were 9.5% of families and 19.0% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including 16.0% of under eighteens and 25.0% of those over 64.

==See also==
* [[Tate Lohr Wildlife Management Area]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

{{Mercer County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Mercer County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Bluefield micropolitan area]]