Fairmont, West Virginia

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Fairmont, West Virginia
City
Downtown Fairmont and the Monongahela River in 2006
Downtown Fairmont and the Monongahela River in 2006
Nickname(s): 
"Friendly City"
Motto(s): 
"Spend a Day... Spend a Lifetime"
Location of Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia.
Location of Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia.
Coordinates: 39°28′53″N 80°8′36″W / 39.48139°N 80.14333°W / 39.48139; -80.14333Coordinates: 39°28′53″N 80°8′36″W / 39.48139°N 80.14333°W / 39.48139; -80.14333
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyMarion
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager government
 • MayorThomas Mainella
 • Deputy MayorDonna Blood
 • City ManagerValerie Means
Area
[1]
 • Total8.99 sq mi (23.27 km2)
 • Land8.60 sq mi (22.28 km2)
 • Water0.38 sq mi (0.99 km2)
Elevation
984 ft (300 m)
Population
 (2010)[3]
 • Total18,704
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
18,388
 • Density2,137.64/sq mi (825.36/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
26554-26555
Area code(s)304
FIPS code54-26452
GNIS feature ID1560581[4]
WebsiteFairmontwv.gov
Child laborers at Monougal Glass Works in Fairmont, 1908. Photo by Lewis Hine.
Marion County Courthouse in Fairmont

Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 18,704 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Marion County.[5]

History[]

Beginnings[]

In the eighteenth century, the earliest development of Fairmont consisted of subsistence farming settlements.[6]

In 1789, Boaz Fleming, a Revolutionary War veteran, migrated to this area and purchased a 254-acre farm from Jonathan Bozarth. In 1808, Fleming made his annual trek to Clarksburg to pay his brother's Harrison County taxes.[7] While in Clarksburg, Fleming attended a social gathering that included his cousin, Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison. Fleming complained to Mrs. Madison about having to travel over a hundred miles each year from his home to pay his Monongalia County taxes and his brother's Harrison County taxes. Mrs. Madison supposedly suggested that he create his own county to save him all that travel. In 1814, Fleming circulated a petition to do precisely that, naming the proposed county Madison County in honor of Dolley and James Madison.

Milford, now Rivesville,[8] was the only town within the borders of Fleming's proposed county, so Fleming decided to make Milford the seat of Madison County.[9] However, Milford's citizens preferred to remain part of Monongalia County. As a result, Fleming's petition failed to gain sufficient support to be presented to the Virginia General Assembly. Fleming then focused on creating a new town near his farm, which was located on the west side of the Monongahela River. In 1817, Fleming's sons—William and David—began to clear land on a part of their father's farm to make way for the new town; this part of the farm would later become downtown Fairmont.

1819 to present[]

In 1819, Fairmont was founded by the name Middletown, Virginia. It was named Middletown because either it was in the middle of two cities: Morgantown and Clarksburg,[10] or Fleming's first wife, Elizabeth Hutchinson, was originally from Middletown, Delaware. That same year, a road was built between those two cities. Fleming's new town was about halfway between the two cities, making it a good resting point. The town was incorporated as Middletown on January 19, 1820.

The current borders of Marion County were established in 1842, and Middletown was named the county's seat. At that time, William Haymond Jr. suggested that the town's name be changed to Fairmont because the town had a beautiful overlook of the Monongahela River, giving it a "fair mount". The Borough of Fairmont was incorporated in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly.[11]

In 1863, during the American Civil War, Confederate General William E. Jones and his men raided Fairmont and cut the Union's supply lines to take food and horses. They also burned the books from the personal library of Governor Francis Harrison Pierpont.[10]

Many of the first buildings in Fairmont were poorly constructed. By 1852—little more than 30 years after the city's founding—a large portion of Fairmont was reported to be run-down and dilapidated. Reports from 1873 indicate that these buildings had continued to fall into disrepair. On April 2, 1876, a fire destroyed a large portion of the city's business district, as well as many houses in the area. The continuing dilapidation of the city's buildings may have contributed to the fire; the large number of coal mines under Fairmont may have also played a role.

Between 1891 and 1901—in a span of only 10 years—Fairmont's population had increased from 1,000 to 7,000. The City of Fairmont was chartered in 1899; as a result of the charter, the city absorbed the surrounding towns of Palatine (also known as East Side) and West Fairmont. By 1901, Fairmont was an important commercial center. Many railroads—including the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on its way from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling—traveled through the city. By this time, Fairmont was also the leading center of the coal trade industry in northern West Virginia, employing some 10,000 workers in the coal mines around Fairmont.

Geography[]

The Tygart Valley River and the West Fork River join in Fairmont to form the Monongahela River. Buffalo Creek, a tributary of the Monongahela River, flows through the northern part of the city.[12]

According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, Fairmont, West Virginia is the port city farthest from the ocean (2,085 miles) via an inland waterway.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.00 square miles (23.31 km2), of which 8.62 square miles (22.33 km2) is land and 0.38 square miles (0.98 km2) is water.[13]

Climate[]

Fairmont has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) with very warm summers and freezing winters. However, it is not uncommon during winter for warm air from the Gulf of Mexico to raise temperatures above 50 °F or 10 °C, which occurs on average six times each January and over eight in December and February. In contrast, when very cold air from Canada moves into West Virginia temperatures can go below 0 °F or −17.8 °C, which can be expected during 3.2 mornings each winter, but which occurred on twelve mornings during the extremely cold January 1977, whose average temperature of 16.0 °F or −8.9 °C was the coldest month on record by 4.0 °F or 2.2 °C. Despite the abundant precipitation throughout the year, the relative dryness of cold air means that most precipitation is rain even during the winter: the most snowfall in a month being 46.5 inches (1.18 m) is November 1950, and the most in a season 77.4 inches (1.97 m) between July 1950 and June 1951. The least snow in a season has been 12.0 inches (0.30 m) between July 1918 and June 1919, whilst the wettest calendar year has been 1956 with 58.12 inches (1,476.2 mm) and the driest – as with all of West Virginia – 1930 with 26.25 inches (666.8 mm). The hottest temperature has been 108 °F (42.2 °C) on August 8, 1918, and the coldest −21 °F (−29.4 °C) on January 21, 1994.

hideClimate data for Fairmont, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals; extremes 1905–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 81
(27) 		79
(26) 		91
(33) 		95
(35) 		100
(38) 		103
(39) 		105
(41) 		108
(42) 		101
(38) 		93
(34) 		84
(29) 		75
(24) 		108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 39.6
(4.2) 		43.0
(6.1) 		52.4
(11.3) 		65.4
(18.6) 		73.4
(23.0) 		80.2
(26.8) 		83.6
(28.7) 		82.6
(28.1) 		77.1
(25.1) 		65.3
(18.5) 		53.8
(12.1) 		43.6
(6.4) 		63.3
(17.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 31.8
(−0.1) 		34.3
(1.3) 		42.5
(5.8) 		53.9
(12.2) 		62.5
(16.9) 		70.0
(21.1) 		73.6
(23.1) 		72.6
(22.6) 		66.4
(19.1) 		54.9
(12.7) 		44.7
(7.1) 		36.1
(2.3) 		53.6
(12.0)
Average low °F (°C) 24.0
(−4.4) 		25.5
(−3.6) 		32.6
(0.3) 		42.4
(5.8) 		51.6
(10.9) 		59.8
(15.4) 		63.7
(17.6) 		62.5
(16.9) 		55.8
(13.2) 		44.5
(6.9) 		35.5
(1.9) 		28.7
(−1.8) 		43.9
(6.6)
Record low °F (°C) −21
(−29) 		−12
(−24) 		−10
(−23) 		10
(−12) 		24
(−4) 		35
(2) 		42
(6) 		36
(2) 		29
(−2) 		17
(−8) 		1
(−17) 		−16
(−27) 		−21
(−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.81
(97) 		3.22
(82) 		4.21
(107) 		3.90
(99) 		5.09
(129) 		4.67
(119) 		4.91
(125) 		3.80
(97) 		3.85
(98) 		3.43
(87) 		3.15
(80) 		3.73
(95) 		47.77
(1,213)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 13.5
(34) 		9.1
(23) 		4.8
(12) 		1.0
(2.5) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		1.8
(4.6) 		7.4
(19) 		37.8
(96)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 15.0 12.8 12.7 13.5 14.4 12.1 12.1 10.4 9.9 10.5 10.7 13.6 147.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 6.9 4.9 2.4 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 4.4 20.3
Source: NOAA (snow 1981–2010)[14][15][16]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850683—
18607043.1%
1870621−11.8%
188090044.9%
18901,02313.7%
19005,655452.8%
19109,71171.7%
192017,85183.8%
193023,15929.7%
194023,105−0.2%
195029,34627.0%
196027,477−6.4%
197026,093−5.0%
198023,863−8.5%
199020,210−15.3%
200019,097−5.5%
201018,704−2.1%
2019 (est.)18,388[2]−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]

2010 census[]

At the 2010 census,[3] there were 18,704 people, 8,133 households and 4,424 families living in the city. The population density was 2,169.8 inhabitants per square mile (837.8/km2). There were 9,200 housing units at an average density of 1,067.3 per square mile (412.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.9% White, 7.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 8,133 households, of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.6% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age was 36.8 years. 18% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census[]

At the 2000 census, there were 19,097 people, 8,447 households and 4,671 families living in the city. The population density was 2,438.5 per square mile (941.7/km2). There were 9,755 housing units at an average density of 1,245.6 per square mile (481.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.16% White, 7.26% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 8,447 households, of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.83.

18.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 14.9% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median household income was $25,628 and the median family income was $37,126. Males had a median income of $27,944 and females $20,401. The per capita income was $16,062. About 12.6% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture[]

Fairmont, since 1927 is home to Country Club Bakery, which is where the pepperoni roll snack was invented originally for the sole purpose of feeding coal miners. The bakery continues to serve the roll along with their various other baked goods.[18][19][20] Fairmont has considered itself to be the "Pepperoni Roll Capital of the World".[21]

Landmarks[]

  • The Johnnie Johnson Blues and Jazz Festival is held annually in Fairmont.[citation needed]
  • Fairmont's National White Collar Crime Center provides nationwide support to law enforcement agencies involved in prevention, investigation, and prosecution of economic and high-tech crime.
  • NASA Independent Verification and Validation Facility, governed by the Goddard Space Flight Center, houses more than 150 full-time employees and more than 20 in-house partners and contractors.[22]
  • The Jacobs-Hutchinson Block building, also known as Peoples' National Bank and Friendly Furniture Store
  • The Aerial Port Gymnastic Center is where the 1984 Olympic Medalist Mary Lou Retton was trained, now relocated to the former site of ABC Printing.

Government[]

Fairmont has a Council-manager government, whereby the mayor serves as chairman of the city council and the city manager takes care of the day-to-day operations. The current mayor is Thomas Mainella [23] and the current city manager is Valerie Means.[24]

City council[]

Josh Rice, District 1 Term expires: 2022

Anne Bolyard, District 2 Term expires: 2024

Karl "David" Kennedy, District 3 Term expires: 2022

Richard "Rick" Garcia, District 4 Term expires: 2024

Barry Bledsoe, District 5 Term expires: 2022

Gia Deasy, District 6 Term expires: 2024

Nick "Nicky" Cinalli, District 7 Term expires: 2022

Thomas Mainella, Mayor, District 8 Term expires: 2022

Donna Blood, Deputy Mayor, District 9 Term expires: 2022

[25]

Past mayors[]

  • William Elza Arnett, 1906–1908
  • Matthew M. Neely, 1908–1910
  • William Conaway
  • A.C. West
  • Fred T. Wilson, 1935–1940
  • Fred T. Wilson, 1944–1945
  • Albert F. Robertson, 1947–1950
  • James H. Hanway, 1951–1955
  • Wiliam G. Meyer, 1959
  • Forrest L. Springer
  • Albert F. Robinson
  • J. Richard Davis
  • William M. Hawkins
  • James L. Turner, 1979
  • Robert K. Powell, 1980
  • James L. Turner, 1981
  • Robert K. Powell, 1982
  • Gregory T. Hinton, 1982-1984
  • Robert M. Drummond Sr., 1984–1985
  • Carl J. Snyder, 1985–1986
  • Robert M. Drummond Jr., 1986–1990
  • Wayne A. Stutler, 1990–1994
  • Charles G. Manly II, 1994–1996
  • Nick L. Fantasia, 1996–2006
  • S. Scott Sears, 2007–2009
  • Matt Delligatti, 2009–2010
  • Bill Burdick, 2011–2012
  • Ronald J. Straight Sr. 2013–2016
  • Thomas Mainella, 2017–2019
  • Brad Merrifield, 2019–2020
  • Thomas Mainella, 2021-present

Education[]

Fairmont Senior High School in 2018

Fairmont Senior High School[]

Main article: Fairmont Senior High School

Fairmont Senior High School is a public high school that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[26] It is one of two high schools in Fairmont, with the other school being East Fairmont High School. The school was established in 1876, and the school was relocated in 1905 and 1928. The current iteration of the school, which is located on Loop Park Dr, was built by the architect William B. Ittner.

Fairmont State University[]

Main article: Fairmont State University

Fairmont State University is a public university with an approximate enrollment of 3,800 students. The institution offers master's degrees in business, education, teaching, criminal justice, and nursing, in addition to 90 baccalaureate and 50 associate degrees. Originally established as a school for teachers, the college was named Fairmont Normal School, and was located on the corner of Fairmont Avenue and Second Street and moved to its present location in 1917.[27]

Infrastructure[]

Highways[]

Fairmont is located in the North-Central region of the state, along West Virginia's I-79 High Tech Corridor. Major highways include:

Airports[]

Fairmont Municipal Airport (Frankman Field) is a public use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) southwest of the central business district of Fairmont. It is owned by the Fairmont-Marion County Regional Airport Authority.[28]

Notable people[]

Mary Lou Retton, the first female gymnast from outside Eastern Europe to win the Olympic all-around title
  • Tony Adamle, played in NFL for Cleveland Browns (1947–1951, 1954)
  • Frank J. Breth, United States Marine Corps brigadier general
  • David Carpenter, professional baseball player, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees
  • Joe Cerisano, singer, songwriter, musician ("Be All That You Can Be", "Hands Across America")
  • Augusta Clark, librarian, politician and lawyer; second African-American woman on Philadelphia City Council (1980-2000)[29]
  • Ann K. Covington, former chief justice of Supreme Court of Missouri, first woman to hold that position
  • Frank Kendall Everest Jr., U.S. Air Force officer best remembered as aeroengineer and test pilot during 1950s; once known as "Fastest Man Alive"
  • Ron Everhart, assistant basketball coach West Virginia University, head coach at Duquesne, Northeastern and McNeese State
  • Art Finley, North American television and radio personality, mostly in San Francisco and Vancouver, remembered by many as "Mayor Art", host of children's show aired on KRON-TV in San Francisco from 1959 to 1966
  • Aretas B. Fleming, 8th Governor of West Virginia
  • Carrie Watson Fleming, First Lady of West Virginia, 1890–1893
  • Frank Cruise Haymond, Judge of West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 1945-1972
  • Thomas Haymond, 19th Century congressman and lawyer
  • Philip C. Jimeno, member of Maryland State Legislature
  • Johnnie Johnson, piano player and blues musician, member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  • Rashod Kent, NFL player
  • Fuzzy Knight, film and television actor, appeared in over 180 films between 1929 and 1967, usually as a cowboy hero's sidekick
  • John Knowles, author of A Separate Peace
  • Alan Mollohan, U.S. Representative from West Virginia's 1st District
  • Stephen Montague, classical composer, lived in Fairmont as a child from 1952 to 1957
  • Luella Mundel, professor and McCarthyism victim
  • Michael Oliverio II, member of state senate, representing 13th District
  • Francis H. Pierpont, Governor of union controlled parts of Virginia during American Civil War, known as "father of West Virginia"
  • Doris Piserchia, science fiction writer
  • Mary Lou Retton, gymnast, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, member of President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports[30]
  • George S. Roberts, combat fighter pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen
  • Nick Saban, current head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama.
  • Darius Stills, American football defensive tackle for the West Virginia Mountaineers[31]
  • Robert Tinnell, screenwriter, director, producer, author of comic books and graphic novels
  • Clarence Wayland Watson, founded several companies that became Consolidation Coal and Mining Companies, was U.S. Senator from West Virginia from 1911 to 1913
  • Hershel W. Williams, awarded Medal of Honor for his outstanding heroism in Battle of Iwo Jima

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. ^ West Virginia SHPO (November 29, 2001). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Fleming-Watson Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ Dilger, Robert (2003). "The Early History of North-Central West Virginia". The West Virginia Public Affairs Reporter. Institute of Public Affairs. 20 (1): 15–26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  8. ^ Butcher, Bernard (1912). Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley, West Virginia. New York, NY: Clearfield Company. p. 514. ISBN 9780806348490.
  9. ^ Burkett, Connie (2015). "Fairmont, Marion County WV (history)". Marion County WVGenWeb. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b McMillan, Debra Ball (1996). An Ornament to the City: Historic Architecture in Downtown Fairmont, West Virginia. Terra Alta, WV: Headline Books, Inc. p. 10. ISBN 0929915186.
  11. ^ Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 236.
  12. ^ West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 1997. p. 25. ISBN 0-89933-246-3.
  13. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  14. ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  15. ^ "Station: Fairmont, WV". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  16. ^ "Station: Fairmont, WV". U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1981-2010). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  17. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  18. ^ Virginian, Scott Gillespie | Times West. "Fairmont's pepperoni roll legacy now enshrined". Times West Virginian. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  19. ^ "The Pepperoni Roll, a West Virginia Secret, created in Marion County". Marion County CVB. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  20. ^ Virginian, Scott Gillespie | Times West. "Fairmont's pepperoni roll legacy now enshrined". Times West Virginian. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  21. ^ Smith, Vicki (March 28, 2004). "Meaty Snack Puts W.Va. Town on the Map". The Washington Post.
  22. ^ "About IV&V | NASA". Nasa.gov. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  23. ^ "City Council | Fairmont, WV - Official Website".
  24. ^ "City Manager | Fairmont, WV - Official Website".
  25. ^ "City Council | Fairmont, WV - Official Website".
  26. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  27. ^ Images of America: Marion County by Thomas J. Koon
  28. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for 4G7 PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective May 31, 2012.
  29. ^ "Former Philly Councilwoman Augusta Clark Dies at 81". WCAU. 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  30. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-15. Retrieved 2011-11-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ West Virginian, Matt Welch Times. "Darius Stills garners national recognition". Times West Virginian. Retrieved 2021-05-17.

External links[]

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