Editing Poca, West Virginia

{{Redirect|Poca|the British law|Proceeds of Crime Act 2002|the village in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Poca, Zenica}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Poca, West Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Poca High School building.png
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = [[Poca High School]]
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

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

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Owner
|leader_name              = Tyler Knight
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             =
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- 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_54.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 1.95
|area_land_km2            = 1.52
|area_water_km2           = 0.43
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.75
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.59
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.17

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_est           = 873
|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_total         = 875
|population_density_km2   = 640.75
|population_density_sq_mi = 1659.28

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 179
|elevation_ft             = 587
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|27|41|N|81|48|56|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 25159
|area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 54-64516<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              = 1555379<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                  = {{URL|https://local.wv.gov/poca/Pages/default.aspx}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}
'''Poca''' is a town in [[Putnam County, West Virginia]], United States. The population was 875 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> It is part of the [[Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area]].<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=March 19, 2013}}</ref> The town derives its name from the [[Pocatalico River]].<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=521;size=125|year=1945|publisher=The Place Name Press|location=Piedmont, WV|page=495}}</ref>

==Geography==
Poca is located at {{coord|38|27|41|N|81|48|56|W|type:city}} (38.461343, -81.815592).<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> It is sited at the [[confluence]] of the [[Kanawha River]] and the [[Pocatalico River]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.76|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.59|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.17|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=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
|1880= 145
|1890= 284
|1960= 607
|1970= 772
|1980= 1142
|1990= 1124
|2000= 1013
|2010= 974
|2020= 875
|estyear=2021
|estimate=873
|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=January 24, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 974 people, 395 households, and 290 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1650.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 415 housing units at an average density of {{convert|703.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 395 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.6% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the town was 42.9 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,013 people, 404 households, and 311 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was 1,806.2 inhabitants per square mile (698.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 430 housing units at an average density of 766.7 per square mile (296.5/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 97.24% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.09% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.49% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 1.18% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.49% of the population.

There were 404 households, out of which 34.4% had children that were under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,273, and the median income for a family was $49,500. Males had a median income of $39,306 versus $20,536 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $19,108. About 9.2% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Culture==
The town's high school is somewhat famous for having the mascot "Dots,"  Poca Dots. [[Poca High School]] recently was selected by ESPN as having the number one sports nickname in the country.

Poca High School's show choir, [http://phsvisualvolume.org "Visual Volume,"] is a 14-time [[National Association for Music Education#State affiliates|WVMEA]] state show choir champion. Director Joseph Kincaid, renowned for his title as "Best Dressed Director" in WVMEA competitive show choir, is a National Board certified teacher. As of 2018, Leonard Varner was the director. In Spring of 2020, Leonard Varner went missing after allegations. The new show choir director is Michael Rose as of Fall 2020.

Poca is also memorialized in a series of art stamps and related stories created by West Virginian artist [[Ben Mahmoud]].  The [http://www.pocastamps.50webs.com series of stamps] feature humorous fictional stories sensationalized around bits and pieces of actual history.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Putnam County, West Virginia}}
{{Huntington-Ashland-Ironton MSA}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Putnam County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Kanawha River]]