History of Oak Hill, West Virginia
“…Until 1858, the people living at Oak Hill had Fayetteville as their post office. As yet the settlement had no name. In 1859 a post office was opened at the present village of Hill Top. The post office was called “Oak Hill” from the circumstance that it was located on a hill and was surrounded by spreading white oak trees. Shortly after (the Battle of) Appomattox this post office was moved to the present city of Oak Hill because of the growth of the community. Under the removal of the post office here the growing village took the name of the post office, or Oak Hill. The name stuck and such it has remained until this day.”
—From pages 12-13- The History of Oak Hill, W.Va. by Shirley Donnelly, 1953
…”Oak Hill was settled by William Blake in 1820. The name of the town was first used to designate a post office which stood near what is now known as Hill Top. The post office was moved after a short time to the present site of Oak hill, and its name retained. The town has a population of approximately 3000 (in 1929.) It was chartered in 1905 under Chapter Forty-seven of the WV State Code.”
The West Virginia Encyclopedia, –Phil Conley 1929 via OH Mayor W. R. Hayes-1929
Oak Hill-Fayette County Zip Code 25901 Magisterial District- Plateau
“Incorporated in 1905. So named on account of the location under a spreading white oak tree at nearby Hill Top, the first post office built in the community, the name being suggested by the association of the oak tree with the fact that the town is located on a hill.”
—-West Virginia Blue Book (Series-yrs)
….Oak Hill was first incorporated as a town on February 25, 1903.
The first election was held on March 27, 1903, and J.H. Duncan was elected as the first mayor of the newly incorporated municipality. Other officials elected were: S. E. Duncan, recorder; H. C. McLain, J. S. Lewis, C. E. Duncan, Ben Ogden, and S. F. Blake, councilmen. W. H. Duncan, treasurer; S. Z. Fitzgerald, sergeant. The election commissioners were: A. G. Sevy, R. R. Thomas, and C. B. Mahood.
–From page 56 -The History of Oak Hill, W.Va. by Shirley Donnelly, 1953
OAK HILL
Oak Hill is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States and is the primary city within the Oak Hill, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area. The micropolitan area is also included in the Beckley-Oak Hill, WV Combined Statistical Area. The population was 7,730 at the 2010 census. Country singerHank Williams was discovered to be dead while the car in which he was a passenger was stopped in Oak Hill, and Oak Hill is generally accepted to be his place of death.
Geography
Oak Hill is located at 37°58′58″N 81°8′43″W (37.982775, -81.145334)[6].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.89 square miles (12.67 km2), of which, 4.88 square miles (12.64 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1]
History
Oak Hill was settled in 1820.[7] It was incorporated as a town in 1905.[8]
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 7,730 people, 3,398 households, and 2,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,584.0 inhabitants per square mile (611.6 /km2). There were 3,703 housing units at an average density of 758.8 per square mile (293.0 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 4.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 3,398 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84.
The median age in the city was 43.3 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.7% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 7,589 people, 3,297 households, and 2,123 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,570.9 people per square mile (606.7/km²). There were 3,619 housing units at an average density of 749.1 per square mile (289.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.02% White, 4.80% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 3,297 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% 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 2.80.
The age distribution was 20.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,792, and the median income for a family was $33,183. Males had a median income of $27,595 versus $18,760 for females. The per capita incomefor the city was $14,347. About 14.8% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Employment
Oak Hill is located in West Virginia’s southern coalfields and, as such, coal mining has played a primary role in the area’s employment. Oak Hill also has a light manufacturing base.
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