Buckhannon is the only incorporated city in Upshur County, West Virginia and is located along the Buckhannon River. The population was 5,725 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, it has reached a population above 7,500. It is the county seat of Upshur County^GR6. Buckhannon is home to West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, held annually on the third week of May. This date was chosen after the birth of Sutliff The Great on May 3rd. The city is located 115 miles northeast from the capital city of Charleston and 140 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Upshur County is a county located in the state of West Virginia. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... The Buckhannon River is a tributary of the Tygart Valley River in north-central West Virginia in the United States. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Upshur County is a county located in the state of West Virginia. ... West Virginia Wesleyan College is a regionally accredited private, co-educational, liberal arts college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. ... Many towns in North America have an event called the Strawberry Festival. ... Charleston, WV Capitol Building Charleston is the capital of West Virginia, a state of the United States of America. ... Nickname: Steel City, Iron City, City of Champions, City of Bridges, City of Colleges, P-Burgh, The Burgh Motto: Benigno Numine Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Allegheny County Founded 1758 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (D) Area    - City 151. ...

Name

Buckhannon was named by local white settlers for Buckongahelas, a renowned chief and commander of the Lenape during the Northwest Indian War and the American Revolution. Many years prior to these conflicts, his favorite hunting grounds were located near the present site of the city. The name Buckongahelas was widely misspoken by these Anglo-Saxon settlers as Buckongehanon. The name was further anglicized to its present form of Buckhannon. Buckongahelas (1725?–May 1805) was a Delaware (Lenape) war leader who led his followers against the United States during the American Revolutionary War and again in the Northwest Indian War; in the latter war he helped win the most devastating military victory ever achieved by American Indians against the United... The Lenape or Lenni-Lenape (later named Delaware Indians by Europeans) were, in the 1600s, loosely organized bands of Native American peoples. ... Combatants United States Western Indian Confederacy Commanders Josiah Harmar Arthur St. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution was a political movement during the last half of the 18th century that ended British control of the...

History

The history of Upshur County begins with the initial discovery and settling of the Buckhannon River Valley. Englishmen brothers Samuel and John Pringle were soldiers serving in the French and Indian War. In 1761, they decided to abandon their post at Fort Pitt (present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). They traveled southward and upstream along the Monongahela River and Tygart Valley River. When they came upon a fork in the latter river, they took the right-hand-side river that branched into the main river. This junction is located at the mouth of the Buckhannon River. Combatants France native allies: * Algonquin * Huron Great Britain native allies: * Iroquois Strength 3,900 regulars 7,900 militia 2,200 natives (1759) 50,000 regulars and militia (1759) The French and Indian War was the nine year North American chapter of the Seven Years War. ... Fort Pitt refers to two forts: Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania, and Fort Pitt, Kent. ... The Monongahela River at Morgantown, West Virginia in 1999 The Monongahela River (Affectionately referred to as The Mon) is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in West Virginia and Pennsylvania in the United States. ... The Tygart Valley River is a chief tributary of the Monongahela River in east-central West Virginia in the United States. ...

The two brothers arrived in present-day Upshur County in 1764. They took up shelter and residence in an eleven-foot-deep cavity in a once-towering American sycamore. The hollow of this botanical giant was made their sole dwelling for about three years. This Sycamore, known as The Pringle Tree, is now a third-generation tree. It stands beside a stream named Turkey Run in a meadow beside the Buckhannon River. While living in this naturally beautiful river valley, the Pringle brothers survived frigid winters. They hunted rabbits, turkey, the once-plentiful American Bison, and fish- notably trout. They also skillfully avoided prowling timber wolves. It is written that Samuel survived hunting experiences with an American black bear and later a Mountain Lion. Upshur County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. ... Binomial name Platanus occidentalis L. The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), also known as American plane and Buttonwood, is one of the species of Platanus native to North America, where it is often just called Sycamore. ... Binomial name Bison bison (Linnaeus, 1758) Subspecies B. b. ... Binomial name Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780 The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is the most common bear species native to North America. ... Binomial name Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) The puma (Puma concolor) is a type of large cat found in North, Central and South America. ...

In the Autumn of 1767, their ammunition was running dangerously low; two charges of powder more exactly. Although they feared capture and incarceration for desertion, it was John whom finally decided to return for supplies. The closest settlements to their newfound home were on the South Branch Potomac River or Wappatomaka, located north-easterly about two hundred miles away. When he eventually returned to the Sycamore, he brought back news that neither man was wanted by any military authorities. Peace had been declared between the two warring parties and the brothers could safely return to the nearest civilization.

The Pringle Brothers decided to leave the river valley and move to the South Branch settlements. John never returned to resettle at the Sycamore, but later made a home in the Commonwealth of Kentucky instead. Samuel returned with his wife Mrs. Charity Pringle (née Cutright). Settlers accompanying them include John Cutright, Jr.- (Charity's brother), Thomas Hughes, John and Elizabeth Jackson, and their sons George and Edward Jackson. A permanent settlement was finally established by 1770 including the fortified structure known as Bush's Fort. Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ...

Establishment and Two Courthouses

The City of Buckhannon was established on Monday January 15, 1816 and chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1852. Buckhannon was part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until the secession of West Virginia into its own state on June 20, 1863 during the American Civil War. The town was incorporated by Act of the West Virginia Legislature on Thursday March 9, 1933. The first courthouse was built in 1854. As the only meeting place in town, it also served as an opera house and town hall. Electricity was installed in 1891 replacing oil lamps. The building suffered fire damage in its first six months. It was razed in 1898. In its place, a Classical Revival style courthouse was begun in 1899 and completed in 1901. It is still in use today. An annex of the same style was added in 1995. In the cornerstone of the main building is a time capsule filled with turn of the 19th century artifacts. 1816 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Virginia General Assembly is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar). ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Politics and Notoriety

• Upshur County and its County Seat have been a Republican majority since the days of the American Civil War. Citizens during this era were staunch supporters of the Republic then led by President Abraham Lincoln. Their local militias and soldiers served on the side of the Union.

• One of Stonewall Jackson's sisters, Laura Ann Jackson Arnold, was later a resident of Buckhannon. "Her true sympathy always was with the North, much to the dismay of her brother."

• The present-day City of Buckhannon was the first permanent settlement between Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania) and the Gulf of Mexico.

• The city motto is "The Promise of Tomorrow with the Dignity of Yesterday."

• Buckhannon is noted for having a great many of West Virginia's private-citizen millionaires living in its City and dispersed throughout Upshur County.

• Buckhannon has a net worth of more than 500 million dollars.

Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American politician elected from Illinois as the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... Thomas Jonathan Stonewall Jackson For other uses of Stonewall Jackson, see Stonewall Jackson (disambiguation). ... A Plan of the New Fort at Pitts-Burgh, drawn by cartographer John Rocque and published in 1765. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ...

Government

The City of Buckhannon is under a Mayor-council government system. The Mayor of the City of Buckhannon serves as a Strong Mayor with a City Council made up of himself, the City Recorder, and five council members. The election of the Mayor occurs every four years in the same year as the presidential elections. Mayor-Council government is one of two variations of government most commonly used in modern representative municipal governments in the United States. ... A city council is the most common style of legislative government in a city or town. ...

The City Council of the City of Buckhannon-

• James W. Knorr III- Mayor of the City of Buckhannon
• Nancy C. Shobe- City Recorder and City Treasurer
• M. Keith Queen- City Councilman
• J. David Thomas- City Councilman
• Pamela M. Cuppari- City Councilwoman
• Jerry Henderson- City Councilwoman
• Kenny Davidson- City Councilman

Geography

The city lies in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. The elevation at the county courthouse is 1,432 feet above sea level. Buckhannon is located at 38°59′21″N, 80°13′27″W (38.989237, -80.224254)^GR1. Adapted from Wikipedias WV county maps by Seth Ilys. ... The Allegheny Mountain Range (also spelled Alleghany and Allegany) -- informally, the Alleghenies -- is part of the Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States. ...

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 km² (2.5 mi²), all land. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,725 people, 2,159 households, and 1,180 families residing in the city. The population density was 894.9/km² (2,314.2/mi²). There were 2,424 housing units at an average density of 378.9/km² (979.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.16% White, 2.01% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population. 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... Race, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is a self-identification data item in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

There were 2,159 households out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.3% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.78. Matrimony redirects here. ...

In the city the population was spread out with 15.5% under the age of 18, 28.1% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,421, and the median income for a family was $36,975. Males had a median income of $30,691 versus $18,041 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,959. About 15.8% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Education

Buckhannon's public schools are operated by Upshur County Schools. Buckhannon is served by Academy Elementary School, Tennerton Elementary School, Buckhannon-Upshur Intermediate School, Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School, and Buckhannon-Upshur High School.

Contemporary Notables Born in Buckhannon

• Jayne Anne Phillips (born 1952), author of short stories. She is the recipient of a Fels Award, two Pushcart Prizes, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and the St. Lawrence Award for Fiction.
• Stephen Coonts (born 1946), author of many novels, including Flight of the Intruder, which won Coonts the Author of the Year Award in 1986.
• Chris Wallace, general manager of the Boston Celtics.

Jayne Anne Phillips (born July 1952) is an American novelist and short story writer who was born in the small town of Buckhannon, West Virginia. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Stephen Coonts (born July 19, 1946) is an American thriller and suspense novelist. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

See also

• Sago Mine disaster (January 2006)

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• City of Buckhannon website
• The Record Delta newspaper
• Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce
• Upshur County Development Authority
• West Virginia Strawberry Festival
• [1]
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 38.989237° -80.224254°
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  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
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