| Kenova, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location of Kenova, West Virginia | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Wayne |
| Government | |
| • Type | Strong Mayor / Council |
| • Mayor | Ric Griffith |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.7 sq mi (4.4 km2) |
| • Land | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 558 ft (170 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 3,485 |
| • Density | 2,887.9/sq mi (1,115.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 25530 |
| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-43180[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1541155[2] |
| Website | http://www.cityofkenova.com |
Kenova is a city in Wayne County, West Virginia, at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers. The name of the town comes from its unique position where the borders of Kentucky, Ohio, and (West) Virginia meet. Founded in 1859 but not incorporated until 1894, the town's early history and development was centered around the railroad industry. It is home to a major Norfolk Southern Ohio River Bridge. CSX Transportation's former Chesapeake and Ohio Kanawha Subdivision travels through the town as well.
The population of Kenova was 3,485 at the 2000 census. Kenova is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649.
The city is also near the site of the Southern Airways Flight 932 aviation disaster. In 1970, a plane carrying the Marshall University football team crashed on a hillside on approach to the Tri-State Airport, killing all on board. A movie about the tragedy, We Are Marshall, was released in 2006.
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Since the closing of Ceredo-Kenova and Buffalo-Wayne High Schools in 1998, Kenova Elementary is the lone public education facility within Kenova city limits. The school has been awarded multiple national blue ribbons in academic achievement. Buffalo Elementary and Buffalo Middle schools are also located near Kenova, but just outside city limits. The former Ceredo-Kenova High School, locally known as "C-K," boasted a great number of athletic state championships, including 12 in football and one in cheerleading. Buffalo can credit championships in boys' and girls' basketball and in football to their accomplishments. In 1998, Ceredo-Kenova and Buffalo-Wayne High Schools were closed and consolidated with Huntington, West Virginia based Vinson High School to form Spring Valley High School.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,485 people, 1,594 households, and 996 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,887.9 people per square mile (1,112.0/km²). There were 1,767 housing units at an average density of 1,464.3 per square mile (563.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.23% White, 0.23% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.03% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.20% of the population.
There were 1,594 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,342, and the median income for a family was $29,688. Males had a median income of $27,656 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,485. About 14.5% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
Dreamland Pool, first opened in 1926, was once the largest swimming pool in the United States east of the Mississippi River, measuring 250 feet by 125 feet. The original construction included a three story pavilion that ran the length of the pool. The top floor of the pavilion included a dance floor, where many notable Big Bands played though the 1930s and 1940s and attracted big names such as Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, and Frank Sinatra.[3] A fire in the 1972 destroyed the pavilion, but the rest of the facility survived. The pool was conveyed to the City of Kenova in 1973. Presently, the Kenova Parks & Recreation Board oversees the operation and management of the facility. About the size of a football field, Dreamland sports two cement floats equidistant from each other in the middle of the pool to allow swimmers a place to rest. Dreamland Pool was recently renovated in 2008.
The 1891 Victorian home located at 748 Beech Street is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and was once visited by President Grover Cleveland. In recent years it has become known as The Pumpkin House, because of the more than 3000 hand-carved Jack-o-Lanterns which owner Ric Griffith, the town's mayor and pharmacist, adorn it with each Halloween season. The Pumpkin House has received national media attention and has been featured on segments of NBC's The Today Show, the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and many other media outlets. Pumpkin house owner Ric Griffith is also longtime owner of the Griffith and Feil Drug Store, an old time drug store with an authentic early 20th century soda fountain which he has totally restored. His father, longtime Kenova businessman and resident Dick Griffith, worked in the pharmacy on a semi-retirement basis for many years until he was in his early 90s. He also sponsored a tennis tournament which bears his name in nearby Huntington.
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