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Spencer, West Virginia facts for kids

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Spencer, West Virginia
Skyline of Spencer from a nearby park
Skyline of Spencer from a nearby park
Flag of Spencer, West Virginia
Flag
Official logo of Spencer, West Virginia
Logo
Location of Spencer in Roane County, West Virginia.
Location of Spencer in Roane County, West Virginia.
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Roane
Area
 • Total 1.27 sq mi (3.30 km2)
 • Land 1.26 sq mi (3.26 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
748 ft (228 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,062
 • Estimate 
(2021)
2,038
 • Density 1,620.03/sq mi (625.51/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
25276
Area code(s) 304
FIPS code 54-75820
GNIS feature ID 1547124

Spencer is a city in and the county seat of Roane County, West Virginia, United States. Originally known as "California," Spencer was chartered in 1858, and named after Spencer Roane (1762–1822), a distinguished jurist from Virginia, who served on the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, and for whom Roane County was named. The population was 2,062 at the 2020 census. Spencer is the home of the annual West Virginia Black Walnut Festival. Points of interest include Charles Fork Lake, Chrystal Water and Power Company-Spencer Water and Ice Company, the McIntosh Mansion, and the Robey Theatre.

Geography

Spencer is located at 38°48′6″N 81°21′6″W / 38.80167°N 81.35167°W / 38.80167; -81.35167 (38.801690, -81.351689). Spring Creek flows through the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.28 square miles (3.32 km2), of which 1.26 square miles (3.26 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.

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, Spencer has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Climate data for Spencer, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 82
(28)
80
(27)
90
(32)
94
(34)
99
(37)
101
(38)
105
(41)
104
(40)
103
(39)
93
(34)
86
(30)
81
(27)
105
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 66.7
(19.3)
68.2
(20.1)
77.1
(25.1)
85.0
(29.4)
87.5
(30.8)
90.4
(32.4)
92.2
(33.4)
91.4
(33.0)
90.0
(32.2)
83.0
(28.3)
76.1
(24.5)
66.9
(19.4)
93.5
(34.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 39.6
(4.2)
43.3
(6.3)
52.8
(11.6)
65.3
(18.5)
73.1
(22.8)
80.2
(26.8)
83.3
(28.5)
82.7
(28.2)
77.3
(25.2)
66.1
(18.9)
53.9
(12.2)
43.8
(6.6)
63.4
(17.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 30.8
(−0.7)
33.4
(0.8)
41.3
(5.2)
52.0
(11.1)
60.9
(16.1)
68.8
(20.4)
72.5
(22.5)
71.3
(21.8)
65.2
(18.4)
53.7
(12.1)
42.7
(5.9)
35.2
(1.8)
52.3
(11.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.9
(−5.6)
23.5
(−4.7)
29.9
(−1.2)
38.7
(3.7)
48.7
(9.3)
57.5
(14.2)
61.7
(16.5)
60.0
(15.6)
53.1
(11.7)
41.3
(5.2)
31.6
(−0.2)
26.5
(−3.1)
41.2
(5.1)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −0.4
(−18.0)
3.7
(−15.7)
12.1
(−11.1)
22.4
(−5.3)
32.3
(0.2)
44.1
(6.7)
51.5
(10.8)
49.7
(9.8)
39.1
(3.9)
26.9
(−2.8)
16.6
(−8.6)
9.0
(−12.8)
−3.5
(−19.7)
Record low °F (°C) −31
(−35)
−22
(−30)
−13
(−25)
9
(−13)
21
(−6)
31
(−1)
38
(3)
35
(2)
24
(−4)
15
(−9)
−1
(−18)
−22
(−30)
−31
(−35)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.39
(86)
3.20
(81)
4.29
(109)
3.70
(94)
4.95
(126)
4.91
(125)
5.33
(135)
3.71
(94)
3.87
(98)
3.27
(83)
3.12
(79)
3.65
(93)
47.39
(1,204)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 9.0
(23)
6.3
(16)
4.1
(10)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.5
(1.3)
4.1
(10)
24.2
(61)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 14.1 13.3 14.3 14.2 15.1 12.6 13.2 10.8 9.6 10.6 11.3 14.0 153.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 6.5 5.0 2.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 3.5 18.1
Source: NOAA

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 196
1870 143 −27.0%
1880 226 58.0%
1890 431 90.7%
1900 737 71.0%
1910 1,224 66.1%
1920 1,765 44.2%
1930 2,493 41.2%
1940 2,497 0.2%
1950 2,587 3.6%
1960 2,660 2.8%
1970 2,271 −14.6%
1980 2,799 23.2%
1990 2,279 −18.6%
2000 2,352 3.2%
2010 2,322 −1.3%
2020 2,062 −11.2%
2021 (est.) 2,038 −12.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,322 people, 1,005 households, and 578 families living in the city. The population density was 1,842.9 inhabitants per square mile (711.5/km2). There were 1,180 housing units at an average density of 936.5 per square mile (361.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.5% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 1,005 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.5% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 40.2 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

Notable people

  • Ruby Bradley, Colonel, U.S. Army, 1907–2002
  • Derek Hardman, Offensive tackle for the National Football League's Detroit Lions
  • Deborah Hersman, chairperson, National Transportation Safety Board from 2009 to 2014
  • Larry Starcher, retired Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court
  • Riley Keaton, member of the West Virginia House of Delegates

Lloyd Lovell Boatwright,Jr. (09/07/1920 - 12/05/1985) Batan Death March Survivor WW-2 - P.O.W. (4 yrs) 59th Coastal Artillery (Army)

Media

Radio

  • WYRC-LP, Grade School (K-12) - 92.3 FM
  • WVRC-FM, Country - 104.7 FM
  • WMCC-LP, Religious (3ABN Radio) - 105.7 FM
  • WVRC-AM, Gospel Music - 1400 AM

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Spencer (Virginia Occidental) para niños

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