White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Location of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Coordinates: 37°47′38″N 80°18′13″W / 37.79389, -80.30361
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Greenbrier
Area
- Total	2.0 sq mi (5.1 km²)
- Land	2.0 sq mi (5.1 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	1,857 ft (566 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,315
- Density	1,179.5/sq mi (455.4/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	24986
Area code(s)	304
FIPS code	54-86812[1]
GNIS feature ID	1555971[2]

White Sulphur Springs is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,315 at the 2000 census.

Geography

White Sulphur Springs is located at 37°47′38″N, 80°18′13″W (37.793975, -80.303538)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,315 people, 1,127 households, and 648 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,179.5 people per square mile (456.0/km²). There were 1,354 housing units at an average density of 689.9/sq mi (266.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.55% White, 14.95% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.

There were 1,127 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 38.6% 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 2.05 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,694, and the median income for a family was $35,450. Males had a median income of $28,566 versus $19,868 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,822. About 15.7% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

See also: White Sulphur Springs (Amtrak station)

Amtrak, the national passenger rail service, provides service to White Sulphur Springs under the Cardinal route.

White Sulphur Springs is serviced by Interstate 64 and U.S. 60.

History

White Sulphur Springs grew in the first half of the nineteenth century as the southern “Queen of the Watering Places.” The hot springs resort first became the standard summer destination for wealthy Virginia low-country residents seeking reprieve from heat, humidity, and disease. As its popularity increased and it gained status as a socially exclusive site, the spring attracted elite guests from all areas of the South.

The resort, now known as The Greenbrier, remains one of the country's most luxurious and exclusive resorts. For many years, Sam Snead was the resort's golf pro. The resort has another significant place in golf history; in 1971, it hosted the first Ryder Cup to feature the current competitive setup of the United States and European sides. Indeed golf in the United States began near White Sulphur Springs when the Montague family founded Oakhurst Links in 1884, making it the oldest organized golf club in the country.

The Greenbrier also attained notoriety in 1992, when the Washington Post revealed that the resort had been the site of a "bunker", the Emergency Relocation Center, which was intended to house and protect the U.S. Congress in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold War[1].

Trivia

White Sulphur Springs only radio station, WSLW, is licensed to "White Sulphur Spring", West Virginia in the FCC database.

America's first golf course was opened in 1884 in White Sulphur Springs and is called Oakhurst Links. Visitors to Oakhurst Links play the course just as golfers did in 1884. Golf at Oakhurst is played with replica 19th-century long-nose, hickory-shafted clubs and "guttie" balls, (made in St. Andrews Scotland exclusively for Oakhurst) hit from sand tees. The US National Hickory Championship tournament is held at Oakhurst annually in June.

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. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia is at coordinates 37°47′38″N 80°18′13″W / 37.793975, -80.303538 (White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia)Coordinates: 37°47′38″N 80°18′13″W / 37.793975, -80.303538 (White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Greenbrier County, West Virginia County seat: Lewisburg Cities Lewisburg | Ronceverte | White Sulphur Springs Towns Alderson‡ | Falling Spring | Quinwood | Rainelle | Rupert CDP Fairlea Other localities Sam Black Church | Smoot Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties