Editing Pennington Gap, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Pennington Gap, Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 =
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Morgan west of Kentucky, Pennington Gap.jpg
|image_caption            = [[U.S. Route 58 Alternate|Morgan Street]] downtown (2017)
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               = Seal of Pennington Gap, Virginia.png

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = VAMap-doton-PenningtonGap.PNG
|map_caption              = Location of Pennington Gap, Virginia
|image_map1               =
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    =
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|45|24|N|83|1|46|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Virginia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Lee County, Virginia|Lee]]

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         =
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        =
|named_for                =

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          =
|leader_title             =
|leader_name              =

<!-- Area -->
|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_51.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.69
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.67
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
|area_total_km2           = 4.37
|area_land_km2            = 4.32
|area_water_km2           = 0.05
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1388

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     =
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 1624
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|population_est           =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = −5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −4
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 24277
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 276|276]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 51-61560 <ref name="GNIS"/>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS feature ID]]
|blank1_info              = 1486137 <ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis2|1486137|Pennington Gap, Virginia}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://townofpenningtonva.gov/|townofpenningtonva.gov}}
}}

'''Pennington Gap''' is a town in [[Lee County, Virginia]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> The population was 1,624 at the 2020 census.

==History==
The Pennington Gap post office was established in 1891.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=VA&county=Lee&searchtext=&pagenum=4 | title=Lee County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref>

The Lee Regional Medical Center in Pennington Gap closed in October 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wcyb.com/news/lee-regional-medical-center-shuts-down/-/14590844/22203896/-/3g0xlbz/-/index.html |title=Lee Regional Medical Center shuts down &#124; News - Home |access-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219153928/http://www.wcyb.com/news/lee-regional-medical-center-shuts-down/-/14590844/22203896/-/3g0xlbz/-/index.html |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but reopened as Lee County Community Hospital in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Southwest Virginia community perseveres, Ballad Health opens new Lee County Community Hospital |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/07/02/2257301/0/en/Southwest-Virginia-community-perseveres-Ballad-Health-opens-new-Lee-County-Community-Hospital.html |website=GlobeNewswire |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rural southwest Virginia county marks hospital reopening |url=https://apnews.com/article/virginia-health-6e9c2b0acc8ee92671dc77552862b021 |website=AP |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
Pennington Gap is located at {{Coord|36|45|24|N|83|1|46|W|type:city}} (36.756580, &minus;83.029375).<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=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 1.5&nbsp;square miles (3.9&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), all  land.

Pennington Gap is located at the junction of [[U.S. Route 58|U.S. Route 58A]] and [[U.S. Route 421]].

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Pennington Gap has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=626644&cityname=Pennington+Gap,+Virginia,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Pennington Gap, Virginia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref>

{{Weather box 
| location = Pennington Gap, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1931–present)
| single line = Yes
| width = auto
| Jan record high F = 76
| Feb record high F = 80
| Mar record high F = 90
| Apr record high F = 89
| May record high F = 94
| Jun record high F = 100
| Jul record high F = 105
| Aug record high F = 101
| Sep record high F = 101
| Oct record high F = 94
| Nov record high F = 85
| Dec record high F = 78
| year record high F = 105
| Jan high F = 44.8
| Feb high F = 49.3
| Mar high F = 58.7
| Apr high F = 68.7
| May high F = 76.1
| Jun high F = 82.8
| Jul high F = 85.3
| Aug high F = 84.9
| Sep high F = 80.7
| Oct high F = 70.5
| Nov high F = 58.2
| Dec high F = 48.4
| year high F = 67.4
| Jan mean F = 34.0
| Feb mean F = 37.5
| Mar mean F = 45.2
| Apr mean F = 54.1
| May mean F = 63.0
| Jun mean F = 70.7
| Jul mean F = 74.1
| Aug mean F = 73.2
| Sep mean F = 67.7
| Oct mean F = 56.1
| Nov mean F = 44.9
| Dec mean F = 37.3
| year mean F = 54.8
| Jan low F = 23.2
| Feb low F = 25.7
| Mar low F = 31.7
| Apr low F = 39.6
| May low F = 49.9
| Jun low F = 58.7
| Jul low F = 62.8
| Aug low F = 61.6
| Sep low F = 54.6
| Oct low F = 41.7
| Nov low F = 31.5
| Dec low F = 26.3
| year low F = 42.3
| Jan record low F = −25
| Feb record low F = −21
| Mar record low F = -8
| Apr record low F = 16
| May record low F = 24
| Jun record low F = 32
| Jul record low F = 41
| Aug record low F = 36
| Sep record low F = 28
| Oct record low F = 16
| Nov record low F = 3
| Dec record low F = −16
| year record low F = −25
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 4.41
| Feb precipitation inch = 4.37
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.86
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.59
| May precipitation inch = 4.32
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.39
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.44
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.95
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.71
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.99
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.88
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.77
| year precipitation inch = 49.68
| Jan snow inch = 3.5
| Feb snow inch = 2.8
| Mar snow inch = 1.1
| Apr snow inch = 0.1
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.0
| Dec snow inch = 1.8
| year snow inch = 9.3
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 10.9
| Feb precipitation days = 10.1
| Mar precipitation days = 11.8
| Apr precipitation days = 10.8
| May precipitation days = 12.1
| Jun precipitation days = 12.2
| Jul precipitation days = 12.9
| Aug precipitation days = 10.5
| Sep precipitation days = 7.9
| Oct precipitation days = 7.9
| Nov precipitation days = 8.5
| Dec precipitation days = 10.8
| year precipitation days = 126.4
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 1.8
| Feb snow days = 1.6
| Mar snow days = 0.7
| Apr snow days = 0.2
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.0
| Dec snow days = 0.8
| year snow days = 5.1
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mrx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 28, 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=USC00446626&format=pdf
| title = Station: Pennington Gap, VA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 28, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 399
|1910= 792
|1920= 940
|1930= 1553
|1940= 1990
|1950= 2090
|1960= 1799
|1970= 1886
|1980= 1716
|1990= 1922
|2000= 1781
|2010= 1781
|2020= 1624
|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>
}}
At the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]] there were 1,624 people living in the town. 

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 1,781 people, 811 households, and 480 families living in the town. The population density was 1,174.0 people per square mile (452.4/km{{sup|2}}). There were 950 housing units at an average density of 626.2 per square mile (241.3/km{{sup|2}}).  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 95.28% White, 3.43% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67%.<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>

Of the 811 households 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 37.5% of households were one person and 16.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.84.

The age distribution was 20.5% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 74.6 males.

The median household income was $18,056 and the median family income was $27,875. Males had a median income of $27,885 versus $18,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,742. About 28.3% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 24.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
The [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] [[United States Penitentiary, Lee]] is located in the Lee County Industrial Park in [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Lee County, Virginia|Lee County]], near Pennington Gap.<ref>"[http://www.bop.gov/DataSource/execute/dsFacilityAddressLoc?start=y&facilityCode=lee USP Lee Contact Information]." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on August 23, 2010.</ref>

==Education==
[[Lee County Public Schools (Virginia)|Lee County Public Schools]] operates schools in the county.

Pennington Elementary School was located on Morgan Avenue, consisting of three buildings built at various times, 1912, 1917, and 1937.

In 1989, with the consolidation of many of the county's high schools at the newly constructed [[Lee High School (Lee County, Virginia)|Lee High School]], the old Pennington High School was converted into Pennington Middle School (grades 5–7).

==Notable people==
* [[Barry Audia]], pro boxer
* [[Claude Ely]], preacher and songwriter
* [[Jim Pankovits]], pro baseball player
* [[William C. Wampler]], representative to the United States Congress
* [[Carol S. Wood]], mathematician

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Lee County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia towns}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Lee County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in Virginia]]