Northfork, West Virginia

Northfork, West Virginia
Town
Looking north on Coal Heritage Road in Northfork
Nickname:  Northfork Blue Demons
Location of Northfork in McDowell County, West Virginia.
Northfork, West Virginia Northfork, West Virginia
Coordinates: 37°25′0″N 81°25′54″W
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	McDowell
Government
• Mayor	Carol Sizemore
• Council Members	Mike Capparelli, Latonia Foster, Bernie Shupe, Curtis Spencer, Robert White Town Recorder: Gary L. Dove
Area
• Total	0.96 sq mi (2.50 km2)
• Land	0.96 sq mi (2.50 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,686 ft (514 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	231
• Density	348.55/sq mi (134.64/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24868
Area code	304
FIPS code	54-59428
GNIS feature ID	1544237
Website	local.wv.gov/northfork/Pages/default.aspx

Northfork is a town in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States, located on U.S. Route 52 between Welch and Bluefield.

The population was 231 at the 2020 census. Northfork was incorporated in 1901, so named because of its location on the north fork of the Elkhorn Creek at its junction with the south fork. It was consolidated with the town of Clark on March 26, 1948.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.49 km²), all land. The town is on the Norfolk Southern Railway (former Norfolk and Western) network.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	425		—
1920	421		−0.9%
1930	494		17.3%
1940	387		−21.7%
1950	994		156.8%
1960	798		−19.7%
1970	737		−7.6%
1980	1,105		49.9%
1990	656		−40.6%
2000	519		−20.9%
2010	429		−17.3%
2020	231		−46.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

Northfork in 1946. Photo by Russell Lee.

2020 census

Northfork town, West Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	229	181	77	44.12%	42.19%	33.33%
Black or African American alone (NH)	278	244	140	53.56%	56.88%	60.61%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	1	1	0	0.19%	0.23%	0.00%
Asian alone (NH)	0	0	0	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	0	0	0	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	9	2	12	1.73%	0.47%	5.19%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2	1	2	0.39%	0.23%	0.87%
Total	519	429	231	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 429 people, 173 households, and 108 families living in the town. The population density was 446.9 inhabitants per square mile (172.5/km²). There were 242 housing units at an average density of 252.1 per square mile (97.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 42.2% White, 57.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.2%.

Of the 173 households 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.6% were non-families. 36.4% of households were one person and 16.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.24.

The median age in the town was 46.3 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 33.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 519 people, 229 households, and 130 families living in the town. The population density was 535.8 inhabitants per square mile (206.9/km²). There were 298 housing units at an average density of 307.7 per square mile (118.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 44.12% White, 53.95% African American, 0.19% Native American, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39%.

Of the 229 households 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.3% were married couples living together, 24.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.8% were non-families. 38.9% of households were one person and 20.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 3.03.

The age distribution was 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.6 males.

The median household income was $16,544 and the median family income was $19,236. Males had a median income of $27,917 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,001. About 31.3% of families and 34.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.6% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Charlie Manuel, MLB baseball manager
• Tom Beasley - Washington Redskins