Shady Spring, West Virginia

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Shady Spring is a census-designated place (CDP) in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,078 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Origin of the name
3 Demographics
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Shady Spring is located at 37°42′13″N, 81°5′27″W (37.703737, -81.090907)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 16.4 km² (6.3 mi²). 16.4 km² (6.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.16% is water.

[edit] Origin of the name

The community takes its name from a spring. “The ‘Shady Spring’ was an enduring landmark, never known to ‘run dry’ and served as a focal point for the community, especially for the women, many of whom would come bearing washtubs…,” according to “A History of Shady Spring District." The first business in Shady was the Pioneer Inn and Tavern, established in 1832 by Henry Hull and his brothers. The first official post office was established on Aug. 25, 1925, and the first postmistress was Mrs. Sarah Willis.^[1]

Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes, future president of the United States, was in the area during the Civil War. He “described the spring in 1862: ‘A large spring gives the name to this place. The water gushes out copiously, runs on the surface a few rods and runs again into the earth,” according to “Raleigh County: West Virginia” by Jim Wood.^[2]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,078 people, 869 households, and 636 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 126.5/km² (327.6/mi²). There were 942 housing units at an average density of 57.4/km² (148.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.52% White, 0.05% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.

There were 869 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,464, and the median income for a family was $36,810. Males had a median income of $31,821 versus $18,363 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,872. About 12.4% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.9% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

^ A History of Shady Spring District, Compiled and Published by the Shady Spring District Woman’s Club (1979). Central Printing Co., Beckley, W.Va. 343-347.
^ Wood, Jim (1994). Raleigh County: West Virginia. BJW Printing & Office Supplies, Beckley, W. Va. 643.