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Buckhannon, West Virginia

Buckhannon is the only incorporated city in and the county seat of Upshur County, West Virginia, United States, and is located along the Buckhannon River. The population was 5,725 at the 2000 census. Buckhannon is home to West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, held annually on the third week of May. The city is located 115 miles northeast from the capital city of Charleston and 140 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Buckhannon is also home of the Sago Mine Tragedy that happened on January 2, 2006, resulting in the deaths of 12 of 13 trapped miners.

Geography

The city lies in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. The elevation at the county courthouse is 1,432 feet above sea level. Buckhannon is located at (38.989237, -80.224254).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,725 people, 2,159 households, and 1,180 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,314.2 people per square mile (894.9/km²). There were 2,424 housing units at an average density of 979.8/sq mi (378.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.16% White, 2.01% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 2,159 households out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.3% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the city the population was spread out with 15.5% under the age of 18, 28.1% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,421, and the median income for a family was $36,975. Males had a median income of $30,691 versus $18,041 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,959. About 15.8% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Name

Buckhannon was supposedly named by local white settlers for Buckongahelas, a renowned chief and commander of the Lenape during the Northwest Indian War and the American Revolution. Many years prior to these conflicts, his favorite hunting grounds were located near the present site of the city. The name Buckongahelas was widely misspoken by these Anglo-Saxon settlers as Buckongehanon. The name was further anglicized to its present form of Buckhannon.

History

The history of Upshur County begins with the initial discovery and settling of the Buckhannon River Valley. Englishmen brothers Samuel and John Pringle were soldiers serving in the French and Indian War. In 1761, they decided to abandon their post at Fort Pitt (present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). They traveled southward and upstream along the Monongahela River and Tygart Valley River. When they came upon a fork in the latter river, they took the right-hand-side river that branched into the main river. This junction is located at the mouth of the Buckhannon River.

The two brothers arrived in present-day Upshur County in 1764. They took up shelter and residence in an eleven-foot-deep cavity in a once-towering American sycamore. The hollow of this botanical giant was made their sole dwelling for about three years. This Sycamore, known as The Pringle Tree, is now a third-generation tree. It stands beside a stream named Turkey Run in a meadow beside the Buckhannon River. While living in this naturally beautiful river valley, the Pringle brothers survived frigid winters. They hunted rabbits, turkey, the once-plentiful American Bison, and fish-notably trout. They also skillfully avoided prowling timber wolves. It is written that Samuel survived hunting experiences with an American black bear and later a Mountain Lion.

In the Autumn of 1767, their ammunition was running dangerously low; two charges of powder more exactly. Although they feared capture and incarceration for desertion, it was John whom finally decided to return for supplies. The closest settlements to their newfound home were on the South Branch Potomac River or Wappatomaka, located north-easterly about two hundred miles away. When he eventually returned to the Sycamore, he brought back news that neither man was wanted by any military authorities. Peace had been declared between the two warring parties and the brothers could safely return to the nearest civilization.

The Pringle Brothers decided to leave the river valley and move to the South Branch settlements. John never returned to resettle at the Sycamore, but later made a home in the Commonwealth of Kentucky instead. Samuel returned with his wife Mrs. Charity Pringle (née Cutright). Settlers accompanying them include John Cutright, Jr.- (Charity's brother), Thomas Hughes, John and Elizabeth Jackson, and their sons George and Edward Jackson. A permanent settlement was finally established by 1770 including the fortified structure known as Bush's Fort.

The City of Buckhannon was established on Monday January 15, 1816 and chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1852. Buckhannon was part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until the secession of West Virginia into its own state on June 20, 1863 during the American Civil War. The town was incorporated by Act of the West Virginia Legislature on Thursday March 9, 1933. The first courthouse was built in 1854. As the only meeting place in town, it also served as an opera house and town hall. Electricity was installed in 1891 replacing oil lamps. The building suffered fire damage in its first six months. It was razed in 1898. In its place, a Classical Revival style courthouse, designed by Charleston architect Harrison Albright, was begun in 1899 and completed in 1901. It is still in use today. An annex of the same style was added in 1995. In the cornerstone of the main building is a time capsule filled with turn of the 19th century artifacts.

http://members.citynet.net/warner/upshur.html

Images of America: Upshur County by The Upshur County Historical Society, pages 07, 09, and 10.

The Scout of the Buckongehanon, by John Camillus McWhorter, pages 32 - 41, 48 - 49.

Crime

Buckhannon has very rare murders or extreme disputes, but almost leads West Virginia in theft, trespassing, assault, underage drink or drug use, methamphetamine lab busts, and other crimes.

Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School and Buckhannon-Upshur High School have gotten at least 8 code reds since November 2004. Another crimes have been 22 caliber shells being found in the High School, fake 911 school shooting calls, and bomb threats.

Tragedies

One notable tragedy is the Sago Mine Disaster which killed 12 and left one survivor after what authorities say was a lightning strike in the coal which lead to an explosion. It was the worst mining disaster in the US since a 2001 disaster in Alabama killed 13 people, and the worst disaster in West Virginia since a 1968 incident that killed 78 people. National and International News crews were in the area for about three to four days.

2008 studies show that West Virginia leads the nation as Buckhannon leads West Virginia in fatal accidents from the ages of 15-21. Buckhannon has had at least 7 die that went or just graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School.

Politics and Notoriety

Upshur County and its County Seat have been a Republican majority since the days of the American Civil War. Citizens during this era were staunch supporters of the Republic then led by President Abraham Lincoln. Their local militias and soldiers served on the side of the Union.

One of Stonewall Jackson's sisters, Laura Ann Jackson Arnold, was later a resident of Buckhannon. "Her true sympathy always was with the North, much to the dismay of her brother."

Stonewall Jackson's grandparents were some of the first residents of Buckhannon.

The present-day City of Buckhannon was the first permanent settlement between Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania) and the Gulf of Mexico.

The city motto is "The Promise of Tomorrow with the Dignity of Yesterday."

Buckhannon is noted for having many of West Virginia's private-citizen millionaires living in its City and dispersed throughout Upshur County.

Buckhannon has a net worth of more than 500 million dollars.

The name Buckhannon became well-known in legal circles after a landmark 2001 U.S. Supreme Court case named Buckhannon Board and Care Home v. West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.Images of America: Upshur County by The Upshur County Historical Society, page 37.Buckhannon, West Virginia (WV) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

Government

Charter of the City of Buckhannon:

http://host.ci.buckhannon.wv.us/site/Forms_files/charter.pdf

The City of Buckhannon is under a Mayor-council government system.
The Mayor of the City of Buckhannon serves as a Strong Mayor with a
City Council made up of himself, the City Recorder, and five council members. The election of the Mayor occurs every four years in the same year as the presidential elections. By law, the City Recorder succeeds to the Office of Mayor acting as the Chief Executive in the event of the sitting Mayor's death or vacancy. The City Recorder also administers the Mayoral Oath of Office.

The City Council of the City of Buckhannon-

Kenny Davidson- Mayor of the City of Buckhannon

Nancy C. Shobe- City Recorder and City Treasurer

M. Keith Queen- City Councilman

Pamela M. Cuppari- City Councilwoman

Jerry Henderson- City Councilwoman

Elizabeth Lee- City Councilman

Education

The institutions of public primary and secondary learning serving the community of Buckhannon are operated by Upshur County Schools.

Upshur County Board of Education, http://boe.wvlink.com/upshurschools/, news and events with current links to all public, county schools (K-12).

West Virginia Wesleyan College, http://www.wvwc.edu/, is a private institution of higher education situated within the City of Buckhannon in a picturesque, sylvan setting.

Notable natives

Jayne Anne Phillips (b. 1952), novelist and short story writer

Stephen Coonts (b. 1946), novelist

Chris Wallace, general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies

External links

City of Buckhannon website

Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce

Upshur County Development Authority

West Virginia Strawberry Festival

The Record Delta newspaper

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