Grafton, West Virginia
Location of Grafton, West Virginia
Coordinates: 39°20′30″N 80°1′11″W / 39.34167, -80.01972
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Taylor
Area
- Total	3.8 sq mi (9.8 km²)
- Land	3.7 sq mi (9.5 km²)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Elevation	1,024 ft (312 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	5,489
- Density	1,491.1/sq mi (575.7/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	26354
Area code(s)	304
FIPS code	54-32716[1]
GNIS feature ID	1554590[2]

Grafton is a city in, and county seat^[3] of, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 5,489 at the 2000 census. The only two national cemeteries in West Virginia are located in Grafton. Mother's Day was founded in Grafton on May 10, 1908; the city is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. Grafton boasts one of the oldest observances of Memorial Day in America.

History

This section requires expansion.

The City of Grafton was chartered in 1856. It is believed to have been named after John Grafton, a civil engineer of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Geography

Grafton is located at 39°20′30″N, 80°1′11″W (39.341757, -80.019817)^[4], along the Tygart Valley River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), of which, 3.7 square miles (9.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (3.16%) is water.

Tygart Lake State Park is a major nearby tourist attraction.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 5,489 people, 2,277 households, and 1,448 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,491.1 people per square mile (575.9/km²). There were 2,575 housing units at an average density of 699.5/sq mi (270.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.07% White, 0.84% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 2,277 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $18,981, and the median income for a family was $25,161. Males had a median income of $22,765 versus $16,629 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,616. About 26.6% of families and 35.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.2% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

• Anna Jarvis Founder of Mother's Day
• George Preston Marshall - longtime owner and president of the Washington Redskins
• Frank Gatski - Pro Football Hall of Fame center for the Cleveland Browns
• Clair Bee - basketball coach for Long Island University & noted Author
• Chip Hilton Clair Bee's fictional hero
• Charles S. Marshall - United States Air Force Colonel, WWII hero, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, father of the writer, Billy Marshall Stoneking and grandfather of C. W. Stoneking.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
4. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• International Mother's Day Shrine
• Taylor County, West Virginia
• Anna Jarvis Birthplace Museum
• Tygart Lake State Park
• The Grafton 123 Coffee House & Cafe
• Mountain Statesman newspaper
• Grafton High School
• Lake Acres Labs
• Lighthouse Leather
• Taylor County Historical & Genealogical Society
• Mirage Sound Co.
• Somethin' Country
• West Virginia (WV) Cyclopedia article
• Taylor County Arts Council

• Grafton, West Virginia is at coordinates 39°20′30″N 80°01′11″W / 39.341757, -80.019817 (Grafton, West Virginia)Coordinates: 39°20′30″N 80°01′11″W / 39.341757, -80.019817 (Grafton, West Virginia)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Taylor County, West Virginia County seat: Grafton City Grafton Town Flemington Unincorporated communities Astor | Belgium | Blueville | Brownlow | Elliotsville | Fetterman | Hepzibah | Knottsville | Lucretia | McGee | Meadland | Millertown | Oreide | Park View | Pruntytown | Rosemont | Santiago | Simpson | South Grafton | Tappan | Thornton | Webster | Wendel | West Grafton