Editing Weston, West Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Weston, West Virginia
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Main Avenue, Weston, West Virginia (2019).jpg
| image_caption            = Main Avenue
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = File:Lewis County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Weston Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Weston in Lewis 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        = [[Lewis County, West Virginia|Lewis]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Kim Harrison
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = 1818 (town)<br>1913 (city)

<!-- 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           = 5.16
| area_land_km2            = 5.03
| area_water_km2           = 0.13
| area_total_sq_mi         = 1.99
| area_land_sq_mi          = 1.94
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.05

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est           = 3890
| 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=3 July 2022}}</ref>
| population_total         = 3952
| population_density_km2   = 766.11
| population_density_sq_mi = 1984.05

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 311
| elevation_ft             = 1020
| coordinates              = {{coord|39|2|31|N|80|28|12|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 26452
| area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 54-85972<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              = 1548967<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|www.cityofwestonwv.com}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
}}

'''Weston''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Lewis County, West Virginia]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 3,943 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> It is home to the [[Museum of American Glass in West Virginia]] and the [[Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum]].

==History==
Weston was founded in 1818 as Preston; the name was changed to Fleshersville soon after, and then to Weston in 1819.<ref>{{cite book| last= Swick |first= Gerald D. |editor= Ken Sullivan | title= The West Virginia Encyclopedia |year= 2006 |publisher= West Virginia Humanities Council |location=Charleston, W.Va. |isbn= 0-9778498-0-5 |pages= 779 |chapter=Weston State Hospital}}</ref>  The city was [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1846.<ref>''West Virginia Blue Book.'' [http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Educational/publications/pub.cfm Published annually] by the Clerk's Office of the [[West Virginia Senate]].</ref>

Weston is the site of the former [[Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum]], a [[psychiatric hospital]] and [[National Historic Landmark]] which has been mostly vacant since its closure in 1994 upon its replacement by the nearby William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital. [[Jackson's Mill]], a childhood home of [[Stonewall Jackson]], is approximately four miles (6&nbsp;km) north of Weston; it has been operated as a [[4-H]] facility since the 1920s and is also the site of a conference center operated by the [[West Virginia University]] [[Agricultural extension|Extension]] Service.<ref>{{cite book |last=Meador |first=Michael M. |year=2006 |chapter=Jackson's Mill |title=The West Virginia Encyclopedia |editor=Ken Sullivan |location=Charleston, WV |publisher=West Virginia Humanities Council |pages=375–376 |isbn=0-9778498-0-5}}.</ref> It is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as the [[Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp Historic District]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

Weston has two national [[Historic district (United States)|historic districts]]: the [[Weston Downtown Historic District]] and [[Weston Downtown Residential Historic District]]. Other buildings on the National Register of Historic Places are the [[Jonathan M. Bennett House]] and the former [[Weston Colored School]].<ref name="nris"/>

<gallery>
Image:Main Avenue, Looking South, Weston, WV.jpg|Main Avenue c. 1912
Image:Weston State Hospital.jpg|[[Weston State Hospital]]
Image:Lewis County Courthouse Weston.jpg|[[Lewis County, West Virginia|Lewis County]] Courthouse
</gallery>

==Geography==
Weston is located {{convert|15|mi}} west of [[Buckhannon, West Virginia|Buckhannon]] and {{convert|20|mi}} south of [[Clarksburg, West Virginia|Clarksburg]] at {{coord|39|2|31|N|80|28|12|W|type:city}} (39.041857, -80.469929),<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 [[West Fork River]] at its confluence with [[Stonecoal Creek]] in [[North Central West Virginia]].<ref>[[DeLorme]] (1997).  ''West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer''.  Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme.  p.36.  {{ISBN|0-89933-246-3}}.</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.00|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.95|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are 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}}</ref>

The city is crossed by [[Interstate 79 in West Virginia|Interstate 79]], [[U.S. Route 19 in West Virginia|U.S. Route 19]], [[U.S. Route 33 in West Virginia|U.S. Route 33]] and [[U.S. Route 119 in West Virginia|U.S. Route 119]].

===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, Weston has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=634965&cityname=Weston%2C+West+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Weston, West Virginia]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 820
| 1870 = 1111
| 1880 = 1516
| 1890 = 2143
| 1900 = 2560
| 1910 = 2213
| 1920 = 5701
| 1930 = 8646
| 1940 = 8268
| 1950 = 8945
| 1960 = 8754
| 1970 = 7323
| 1980 = 6250
| 1990 = 4994
| 2000 = 4317
| 2010 = 4110
| 2020 = 3952
| estyear = 2021
| estimate = 3890
| 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>
}}

=== 2020 census ===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 3,952 people and 1,561 [[household]]s residing in the city. There were 2,106 housing units in Weston. The racial makeup of the city was 93% [[White American|White]], 0.9% [[African American]], 0.9% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.8% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 4.2% from [[Multiracial American|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 1,561 households, of which 34.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together,  32.2% had a female householder with no spouse present, 23.7% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average household and family size was 3.33. The median age in the city was 39.7 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Weston_city,_West_Virginia?g=1600000US5485972 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=data.census.gov}}</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 4,110 people, 1,811 households, and 1,082 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2107.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,135 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1094.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,811 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.3% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 41.4 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,317 people, 1,942 households, and 1,172 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was 2,533.5 inhabitants per square mile (980.5/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 2,222 housing units at an average density of 1,304.0 per square mile (504.7/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 98.24% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.19% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.09% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.72% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.58% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 1,942 households, out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,690, and the median income for a family was $33,783. Males had a median income of $27,988 versus $17,335 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,089. About 15.1% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==
[[Image:Weston wv west fork river.jpg|thumb|right|West Fork River - former state hospital in background]]
* [[Louis Bennett Jr.]], World War I flying ace
* [[William Thomas Bland]], [[United States House of Representatives|congressman]]
* [[Charlie Brown (pilot)|Charlie Brown]], World War II USAAF pilot
* [[Andrew Edmiston, Jr.]], congressman
* [[John William Hamilton]], bishop
* [[Buddy Hayes (musician)|Buddy Hayes]], musician
* [[Rush D. Holt, Sr.]], senator
* [[Rush D. Holt, Jr.]], congressman
* [[Jason Koon]], poker player
* [[Lewis Maxwell]], congressman
* [[Alexander Scott Withers]], author
* [[Fred Wyant]], football player

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Weston, West Virginia}}
{{wikivoyage|Weston (West Virginia)}}
* {{Official website|www.cityofwestonwv.com}}
* [http://louisbennett.lib.wv.us/ Louis Bennett Public Library]
* [http://wvmag.bglances.com/ West Virginia Museum of American Glass]
* [http://www.westondemocrat.com/ ''The Weston Democrat''], local newspaper

{{Lewis County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}
{{West Virginia county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Weston, West Virginia|*]]
[[Category:Cities in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Cities in Lewis County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:County seats in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places on the West Fork River]]