Clendenin, West Virginia

In the 1800s, Clendenin was a small settlement at the confluence of Big Sandy Creek and the Elk River that eventually became a small village named Chilton. At this time, timber and coal mining were the principal industries in the area. In 1846, one of the first cannel coal veins was discovered at Falling Rock (only a few miles from Chilton/Clendenin) and became a rich source for manufacturing artificial gas.{{cite web|title=Clendenin Historic District|url=http://www.livingplaces.com/WV/Kanawha_County/Clendenin_Town/Clendenin_Historic_District.html|website=Living Places|language=en}} Clendenin was platted in 1877.{{cite book|last=Kenny|first=Hamill|title=West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains|url=http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015009099824;view=1up;seq=203|year=1945|publisher=The Place Name Press|location=Piedmont, WV|page=175}}

In 1893, the Coal and Coke railroad was built running through Clendenin, paralleling the Elk River and allowing the logging industry to set up residence. Along with the drilling of the first gas well in the area in 1900, this allowed the development of one of the largest oil and gas fields in West Virginia. The town was incorporated in 1904 and named after the Clendenin family, an early pioneer family in the Kanawha River Valley. The first petrochemical plant in the world was built in Clendenin in 1920. This plant was the original Union Carbide Corporation facility. Other chief economic staples included timber, coal, gas, oil, and salt. The decades from 1900 to 1930 saw most of the towns growth, and construction of most of the major buildings in town, including the elementary, middle, and high schools, several large churches, three banks, and several blocks of commercial buildings. When Union Carbide moved their production plant from Falling Rock to Charleston, the economy slowed but Clendenin remained a commercial hub for northern Kanawha County, southern Roane County, and western Clay County until Interstate 79 bypassed the town in the 1980s.

Clendenin suffered damage during the 2016 West Virginia flood. Recovery was largely complete by January 2020, although some homes remained in need of demolition or rebuilding.{{Cite web|url=https://wfpl.org/after-deadly-floods-west-virginia-created-a-resiliency-office-its-barely-functioning/|title=W.Va.'s Resiliency Office Is Barely Functioning|last=Peterson|first=Erica|date=January 27, 2020|website=89.3 WFPL News Louisville|language=en-US|access-date=February 11, 2020}}

The current mayor of Clendenin is Kay Summers.{{cite web|url=http://wchstv.com/news/local/clendenin-elects-new-mayor-shana-trippett|title=Fontalbert wins Marmet election by 4 votes; Clendenin mayor ousted by newcomer|website=WCHS|date=June 14, 2017 |publisher=WCHS|access-date=June 23, 2017}} Town elections (including the office of mayor and city council) occur every two years. Recent efforts have been made by 25045-A New Clendenin (a non-profit corporation based in Clendenin) and the Business and Industrial Development Corporation (headquartered in Charleston) to enhance economic and cultural development in the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|1.51|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.44|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.07|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012 }}

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Clendenin has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=327164&cityname=Clendenin%2C+West+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Clendenin, West Virginia] In Clendenin, 236 days out of the year have fog, and 153 days have precipitation.{{Cite web|url=http://myforecast.co/bin/climate.m?city=32488&zip_code=25045&metric=true|title=Clendenin, WV Climate|website=myforecast.co|access-date=July 15, 2019}}

{{Weather box

| single line = Y

| location = Clendenin, West Virginia (1991–2020)

| Jan high F =42.5

| Feb high F =47.1

| Mar high F =56.3

| Apr high F =69.1

| May high F =75.9

| Jun high F =83.5

| Jul high F =86.0

| Aug high F =85.1

| Sep high F =79.6

| Oct high F =68.7

| Nov high F =56.5

| Dec high F =46.4

| Jan mean F =33.1

| Feb mean F =36.2

| Mar mean F =43.8

| Apr mean F =54.8

| May mean F =63.1

| Jun mean F =71.6

| Jul mean F =75.3

| Aug mean F =74.3

| Sep mean F =68.1

| Oct mean F =56.3

| Nov mean F =44.9

| Dec mean F =37.3

| Jan low F =23.7

| Feb low F =25.2

| Mar low F =31.2

| Apr low F =40.5

| May low F =50.3

| Jun low F =59.8

| Jul low F =64.6

| Aug low F =63.6

| Sep low F =56.6

| Oct low F =44.0

| Nov low F =33.3

| Dec low F =28.1

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch =3.88

| Feb precipitation inch =3.40

| Mar precipitation inch =4.45

| Apr precipitation inch =4.32

| May precipitation inch =5.17

| Jun precipitation inch =6.08

| Jul precipitation inch =5.84

| Aug precipitation inch =4.81

| Sep precipitation inch =3.88

| Oct precipitation inch =3.06

| Nov precipitation inch =3.65

| Dec precipitation inch =3.98

| Jan snow inch =6.1

| Feb snow inch =3.2

| Mar snow inch =4.0

| Apr snow inch =0.1

| May snow inch =0.0

| Jun snow inch =0.0

| Jul snow inch =0.0

| Aug snow inch =0.0

| Sep snow inch =0.0

| Oct snow inch =0.0

| Nov snow inch =0.7

| Dec snow inch =3.8

| source = NOAA{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00461723 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-03-13 }}

}}

{{US Census population

|1910= 815

|1920= 1263

|1930= 1217

|1940= 1200

|1950= 1475

|1960= 1510

|1970= 1438

|1980= 1373

|1990= 1203

|2000= 1116

|2010= 1227

|2020= 850

|estyear=2021

|estimate=850

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

The median income for a household in the town was $32,000, and the median income for a family was $38,021. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $18,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,587. About 9.7% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 census,{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 24, 2013}} there were 1,227 people, 524 households, and 335 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|852.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 576 housing units at an average density of {{convert|400.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.7% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Asian, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.1% of the population.

There were 524 households, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the town was 43.5 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64; and 18.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

The Clendenin Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

File:ERTPath-2022.png

The Elk River Trail is a {{convert|75|mi|km|adj=on}} trail from Clendenin to Gassaway, West Virginia. The trail features waterfalls, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.{{cite web | title = Elk River Trail | publisher = West Virginia State Parks | url = https://wvstateparks.com/park/elk-river-trail/ | accessdate = October 30, 2023}}

Kindergarten through 12th grade students in Clendenin attend Clendenin Elementary School (PK-5), Elkview Middle School (6-8), and Herbert Hoover High School (West Virginia) (9-12). Only the Clendenin Elementary lies within the boundaries of the city. Elkview Middle School is located 7 miles from Clendenin in neighboring Elkview, WV. Herbert Hoover High School was located just outside of Clendenin town limits until it was destroyed in the June 2016 floods. The new Herbert Hoover High School is located on Frame Road in Elkview and has an opening date of August 2023.

• Bill Karr, played right end for the Chicago Bears from 1933 to 1938, scoring 18 TDs on a career total of only 48 receptions
• Billy Joe Mantooth, 1970 All American at Ferrum College; transferred to West Virginia University in 1971, played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Oilers
• Dave Stephenson, played in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers

Various claims of seeing "a large brown winged man take flight" have been made in the area.{{cite web | url=https://wvexplorer.com/2022/07/19/did-legendary-mothman-first-appear-at-clendenin-cemetery/ | title=Did legendary Mothman first appear near Elk River Trail? - West Virginia Explorer | date=July 19, 2022 }} Others described seeing "a large gray creature whose eyes 'glowed red' when the car headlights picked it up."{{cite book|author=Joe Nickell|title=The Mystery Chronicles: More Real-Life X-Files|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sComGoDFJZ4C&pg=PA93|accessdate=August 21, 2011|date=April 2004|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=978-0-8131-2318-9|pages=93–}} The alleged creature became known as the Mothman.{{cite web|url=https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/mothman-point-pleasant-west-virginia|title= An Ode to a Hometown Creature: Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia|website=Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage|date=June 7, 2021}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://www.clendeninwv.org/}}

{{Kanawha County, West Virginia}}

{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Kanawha County, West Virginia

Category:Towns in West Virginia

Category:Charleston, West Virginia metropolitan area

Category:Populated places on the Elk River (West Virginia)