Editing Ravenswood, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Ravenswood, West Virginia
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| image_skyline            = Ravenswood WV.JPG
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Intersection of Washington and Walnut Streets
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = Seal of Ravenswood, West Virginia.png
| nickname                 =

<!-- Images -->
| image_map                = File:Jackson County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ravenswood Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Ravenswood in Jackson County, West Virginia.
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|38|57|11|N|81|45|41|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in West Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[West Virginia]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Jackson County, West Virginia|Jackson]]

<!-- Government -->
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Joshua Miller
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| 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           = 4.89
| area_total_sq_mi         = 1.89
| area_land_km2            = 4.71
| area_land_sq_mi          = 1.82
| area_water_km2           = 0.18
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.07

<!-- Population -->
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 185
| elevation_ft             = 607
| population_total         = 3865
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| 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_density_km2   = 774.00
| population_density_sq_mi = 2004.95

<!-- General information -->
| population_est           = 3847
| pop_est_as_of            = 2021
| pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 26164
| area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]]
| website                  = {{URL|https://cityofravenswood.com}}, {{URL|https://www.facebook.com/cityofravenswood}}
| footnotes                =
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 54-67108<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              = 1555445<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>
}}

'''Ravenswood''' is a city in [[Jackson County, West Virginia|Jackson County]], [[West Virginia]], United States, along the [[Ohio River]]. The population was 3,865 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>

==Etymology==
Two differing stories tell of the naming of Ravenswood. One story tells that the town was originally named Ravensworth, after the English relatives of a founding family. But somewhere between the Ohio River wilderness and the mapmaker in Richmond, the name was changed to Ravenswood. The second story says that Henrietta Fitzhugh, wife of one of the town founders, Henry Fitzhugh, named the town after the hero in [[Walter Scott]]'s novel ''[[The Bride of Lammermoor]]'' (1819).<ref name=house/>

== History==
Ravenswood is sited on land once owned by [[George Washington]]. Washington acquired the {{convert|2448|acre|km2|0|adj=on}} parcel in 1770, and designated [[William Crawford (soldier)|Colonel William Crawford]] to survey the lands in 1771. A permanent settlement was first established in 1810, and the town streets and lots were laid out in their current pattern by descendants of Washington in 1835.<ref name="town">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312034139/http://www.ravenswoodwv.org/town%20(History).html?409 City of Ravenswood web site]}}, retrieved November 30, 2006.</ref> The first town election was held in the home of Bartholomew Fleming in 1840.<ref name=house>[http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/lowsandy.htm#03 House, John A, "''Pioneers of Jackson County''", unpublished], retrieved November 30, 2006</ref> Ravenswood was incorporated in 1852.

During the [[American Civil War]], the 1863 [[Battle of Buffington Island]] took place {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Ravenswood.<ref>[http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/oh001.htm Buffington Island Battle Summary, American Battlefield Protection Program, National Park Service], retrieved November 30, 2006</ref> In 1886, the Ohio River Rail Road reached Ravenswood.<ref>[http://mountainstaterails.net/index.php?showtopic=22&st=40 Mountain State Rails website, B&O page], retrieved November 30, 2006.</ref>

=== Legend of the Devil’s Baby===
In the local cemetery is a gravestone marking the grave of George Elwood Sharp, a two-year-old toddler who died 1917. The ceramic photo plate on the stone was said to be "of a demonical baby, complete with hollow eyes, fangs, and horns. What’s more, the claim is that at night the ceramic picture plate on this tombstone emits an eerie, iridescent glow. Not only that, but if you listen carefully, you may be able to hear the child’s disembodied cry drifting through the air across the cemetery lawn."<ref name="Reed">{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Daniel |title=The Case of the Devil’s Baby of Ravenswood |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2022/12/the-case-of-the-devils-baby-of-ravenswood/ |website=Skeptical Inquirer |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry |access-date=30 January 2024 |ref=Reed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130211035/https://skepticalinquirer.org/2022/12/the-case-of-the-devils-baby-of-ravenswood/ |archive-date=30 January 2024}}</ref>

According to researcher Daniel Reed, the three claims made by the legend can easily be explained: the demonical baby depicted in the image plate is simply the result of years of deterioration; the eerie glow is nothing more than a reflection of the setting sun (or reflection from a security light); and the disembodied cry is likely sounds coming from the nearby residential area (along with psychological priming and confirmation bias of ghost hunters)."<ref name="Reed"/>

== Industry==
In 1931, the Ravenswood Glass Novelty Company ("The Marble Factory") opened.<ref>[http://www.marblemuseum.org/ravenswood.html The Marble Museum web site, Ravenswood Glass Novelty web page], retrieved November 30, 2006.</ref> When [[Kaiser Aluminum]] planned a new facility with 12,000 workers, Bill Finley was hired to plan a "company town" of 25,000. He went on to become a planner with the [[National Capital Planning Commission]], and develop the community of [[Columbia, Maryland]], for the [[Rouse Company]].<ref>{{cite book|title=New City Upon a Hill|author=Joseph Rocco Mitchell, David L. Stebenne|page=66}}</ref> [[Henry J. Kaiser]] opened what was then the world's largest aluminum refinery six miles south of Ravenswood in 1957.<ref name=town/> The Kaiser facility is now owned by [[Constellium]] and [[Century Aluminum]].<ref>{{Cite web| title = Ravenswood deals with open plant, closed plant| work = Charleston Gazette-Mail| access-date = 2016-08-02| url = http://www.wvgazettemail.com/News/201305240202}}</ref> [[John F. Kennedy]] visited Ravenswood during the [[1960 Democratic Party presidential primaries]].{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} The Ravenswood exit of [[Interstate 77 in West Virginia|Interstate 77]] opened in 1964.

In February 2010, ''[[USA Today]]'' referred to Ravenswood as "teetering on a ghost town".<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-01-townhangingon_N.htm 1]</ref> Mayor Lucy Harbert responded by bringing in sponsorships from several Silicon Valley–based companies like ScanCafe.com and StartUps.com.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110713072607/http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/news/x313371159/Ravenswood-mayor-captures-attention-and-support-of-Silicon-Valley-company 2]</ref> On March 26, 2010, Mike Ruben, a reporter with the ''State Journal'' newspaper, announced that Ravenswood was "transforming" the town into "Aluminum City, U.S.A." to help attract local tourism revenue: "L.A. Promoter Plans to Market 'Aluminum City'."  None of these developments came to fruition.

==Geography==
[[File:Ravenswood Bridge aerial 2017.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the city]]
Ravenswood is located at {{coord|38|57|11|N|81|45|41|W|type:city}} (38.952922, -81.761357),<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=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along the [[Ohio River]] at the mouth of [[Sandy Creek (Ohio River tributary)|Sandy Creek]].<ref>{{cite book| title= West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer |year=1997 |publisher= [[DeLorme]] |location=Yarmouth, Me. |isbn= 0-89933-246-3 |pages= 33}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.90|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.83|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.07|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, Ravenswood has a [[Humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=253764&cityname=Ravenswood%2C+West+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Ravenswood, West Virginia]</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Ravenswood, West Virginia
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan high F = 44
|Feb high F = 47
|Mar high F = 56
|Apr high F = 68
|May high F = 77
|Jun high F = 84
|Jul high F = 87
|Aug high F = 86
|Sep high F = 81
|Oct high F = 71
|Nov high F = 57
|Dec high F = 48
|year high F = 67
|Jan low F = 24
|Feb low F = 25
|Mar low F = 32
|Apr low F = 41
|May low F = 50
|Jun low F = 58
|Jul low F = 62
|Aug low F = 61
|Sep low F = 55
|Oct low F = 43
|Nov low F = 34
|Dec low F = 27
|year low F = 43
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.3
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.8
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.7
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.2
|May precipitation inch = 3.6
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.7
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.4
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.6
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.7
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.5
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.7
|Dec precipitation inch = 3
|year precipitation inch = 39.3
|source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=253764&cityname=Ravenswood-West-Virginia
|publisher=Weatherbase
|title=Weatherbase.com
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on September 13, 2013.
</ref>
|date=September 2013
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 362
|1880= 681
|1890= 817
|1900= 1074
|1910= 1081
|1920= 1284
|1930= 1189
|1940= 1061
|1950= 1175
|1960= 3410
|1970= 4240
|1980= 4126
|1990= 4189
|2000= 4031
|2010= 3876
|2020= 3865
|estyear=2021
|estimate=3847
|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 3,876 people, 1,657 households, and 1,061 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2118.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,807 housing units at an average density of {{convert|987.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.3% 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 1,657 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 42.4 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 23.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,031 people, 1,692 households, and 1,135 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2,190.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,832 housing units at an average density of {{convert|995.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.04% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.25% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.05% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.74% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.15% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.77% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 1,692 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,308, and the median income for a family was $37,416. Males had a median income of $34,417 versus $21,134 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,696. About 15.4% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Primary and secondary public education is provided by Jackson County Schools. Ravenswood public schools include Henry J. Kaiser Elementary School (Grades K-2), Ravenswood Grade School (Grades 3–5), Ravenswood Middle School (Grades 6–8), and Ravenswood High School (9–12). Ravenswood Grade School is located about {{frac|1|1|2}} miles outside of the town limits. The other schools are located within the town boundaries. The official mascot of Ravenswood High School is the Red Devil. Lower-level schools are referred to as Demons.<ref name=pubschool>[http://boe.jack.k12.wv.us/ Jackson County Schools web site], retrieved November 30, 2006</ref>  Private school education is provided by the Heritage Christian Academy (Grades K-12).<ref>[http://schools.privateschoolsreport.com/WestVirginia/Ravenswood/HeritageChristianAcademy.html Private School Report web site, Ravenswood web page], retrieved on December 20, 2006</ref>

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

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://cityofravenswood.com/}}

{{Jackson County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

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