Huntington, West Virginia

The city of Huntington is located in the Wayne and Cabell counties in the state of West Virginia and situated on the banks of the Ohio River. The city is has a rich heritage and a community that loves entertainment and recreation. activities. Huntington is West Virginia's second largest city behind Charleston. The city is home to one of the state's most recognized universities, Marshall University.

The courthouse for Cabell County is located in the downtown area of Huntington covering an entire city block. Many of the offices for elected officials from the county are located within the courthouse, such as the sheriff, county clerk, county commissioners and the different judges. Huntington is also home to a number of medical centers and acts as the area's commerce and banking center. The majority of Huntington lies is within the county limits of Cabell County and serves as its county seat.

Huntington is a great place to live in. There are intriquing options in entertainment, education, affordable living and many other benefits the city offers its residents. It is also an area of history and culture.

Huntington History

Huntington received its name from Collis P. Huntington. The city was founded in his honor in 1870. The city was originally founded as the western-most terminal for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. The town was established where the Ohio and Guyandotte River meet. There are a number of railroad shops throughout the city with old relics and collector's items. The very first settlement founded in what is considered present day Huntington was Holderby's Landing founded in 1775.

The city received its incorporation in 1871. Marshall College, later named Marshall University was located in Huntington when its name was changed from Holderby's Landing in 1871. In 1961, Marshall College was renamed as Marshall University. In 1950, Huntington enjoyed its peak population when over 85,000 called it home. In the 1960s, the city began to grow in size as the population began to spread out into unpopulated areas as is customary in the form of urban sprawl.

The city has always been an industrial community with its founding based on the railway. There are still a number of steel repair businesses and many businesses with ties to the railroad industry. Huntington has become a regional medical community. The city boasts two hospitals Cabell-Huntington and St. Mary's, which are the city's two largest employers. The city is also known in the region as a "University Town" with the presence of Marshall University that has over 16,000 students enrolled.

Huntington was thought to have been plagued with the "Rust Belt" syndrome, industrial cities that declined in the '70s and '80s due to a shift in the economy in the United States. This negative connotation really did not affect Huntington as much as other areas. Its decline in population was due to urban sprawl without the city not annexing some of the outlying areas into its city limits.

The city started a retransformation in 2005. Following the urban renewal programs of the 1970s, much of downtown Huntington was destroyed. The transformation resurrected areas with the construction of places such as Pullman Square an entertainment and retail center. In addition, the Harris Park Riverfront promenade has improved the area along the Ohio River in downtown Huntington. Today the city with its annual festivals, large university community and medical community is starting to return to its peak days of the 1950s.

About Huntington, West Virginia

Huntington is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has its own downtown historic district. There are a number of museums, a theatre and galleries located within the city. The Huntington Museum of Art has a number of exhibitions and different collections. The Museum of Radio and Technology is located in a renovated school. Other historic buildings of interest include the Carnegie Library and Cabell County Courthouse.

The Keith-Albee Theatre is a masterpiece of 1920s art deco and is located in Huntington's downtown area. It is one of the largest performing arts centers in all of West Virginia. Other areas close by have a number of churches and the Adena Native American burial grounds.

The city is known for its drive-in restaurants as well as its many different hot dog stands. The city boasts eleven different parks with the most popular being the Harris Riverfront Park that is located downtown. An amusement park called Camden Park is located on the outskirts of the city.

Huntington has a predominately white population with almost 90% of the 2000 census registering as white and just over 7.5% black or African American, with the remaining 2.5% a mix of Asian, Native American, Latino and others. The city is starting new urban renewal projects, as there has been investment in many downtown properties. The city still remains a producer of metals and has a great deal of welding trade, as a center for the railroad there are a number of locations that repair barges, railroad rails and other related material.

Pullman Square has become a popular area for socializing in the city and is a great place to meet the locals. There are a number of shops, restaurants and areas for live on-stage performances. Marshall University is very competitive in the sports scene with its powerhouse football team. Much of the cultural activities that take place in the city, including festivals and other activities are held annually. The Greek Festival held in September has great food, music and dance. An annual chili fest determines the state champion for chili. People from all over the state and the country come to compete. There are also a number of Arts, Craft and Music Festivals. The music festivals include jazz, folk music and other popular music.

Marshall University also has a number of events they host throughout the year and their influence is felt throughout the city with their student body from all over the world. They also bring additional commerce to the area as the students rent apartments throughout the city.

About Cabell and Wayne Counties, West Virginia

Huntington, West Virginia is located in two counties of West Virginia, Cabell and Wayne. Cabell County according to the 2010 census a population of 96,000. It was organized as a county in 1809 and named after the former governor of Virginia, William H. Cabell. The population of the county is 93% white, 4% black and 3% mixed amongst a variety of other races.

Forty-seven percent of the households are married couples while over 11% of the homes are single women with no male present and over 38% of the households are non-family units. The average size household in the county is 2.25 with the average family size a little larger at 2.85.

The ages of the population of the county were proportionately divided with 20% of the population less than 18, 13% were between the age of 18-24, 27% from 24 to 44, 24% were between 45 and 64 and 16% were older than 65. The average age for the county is 38. There was just less than 10% more woman than men with that increasing for females and males over 18, to 11%.

Family median income in the county is just less than $38,000, with the county having an overall per capita income of just $17,500. Close to 20% of the entire population in the county was below the national poverty line. With one in four children, less than 18 living below the poverty line.

Huntington also falls within the limits of Wayne County. The area of Huntington that falls in the county limits is a very small area and is made up of just one neighborhood. Those living in that area a neighborhood named Westmoreland fall under the laws of Cabell County and must only pay certain taxes on property to Wayne County but receive all other services from Cabell County.