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(Photo by Calvin Shepherd - Use By Permission)
Alderson West Virginia - A History
Census Statistics
In 1880, one year before Alderson was incorporated, the population was 478.   In   1940   the   population   of Alderson   corporation   was   493.   In   1950   it   had   decreased   very   little   to   489,   but   in   1960   it   was   1225.   Thus Alderson   lost   18% in   population   from   1950   to   1960.*   Of   the   1225   people   in   1960,   774   lived   on   the   North   side   and   451   lived   on   the   South   side,   565   were   male,   660   were female;   1076   were   white   and   149   were   Negro.   The   town   had   462   households   and   but   50   of   the   households   were   Negro.   There   were   131   boys   under 14 years of age and 159 men over 55.   In   a   survey   published   n   January,   1955,   generally   known   as   the   'Kellogg   Report",   entitled   Greenbrier's   Schools   and   Communities,   there   was   a   quantity of   statistical   material   about   the   communities   of   Greenbrier   County.   It   is   generally   thought   these   statistics   have   changed   but   little   from   1954   to   1964, and the 1960 census verifies this opinion. This   study   showed   that   the   percentage   of   children   was   lower,   and   the   percentage   of   old   people   higher,   in   Alderson   than   anywhere   in   Greenbrier County.   Fourteen   per   cent   of Alderson’s   population   had   attended   college. Alderson   had   the   highest   percentage,   38%   of   its   student   enrollment   in   high school,   leading   the   county,   but   only   3%   of   its   school-enrolled   youth   were   going   to   college.   The   survey   showed   35%   of   the   families   in   Alderson   had incomes   below   average,   37%   average,   and   28%   above   average   in   comparison   with   the   county.   Twentytwo   people   earned   their   living   in   coal   mining and   thirteen   in   timbering.   Only   one   per   cent   of Alderson’s   residents   were   professionals,   the   lowest   in   Greenbrier   County.   Forty   per   cent   of Alder-   son’s housewives   had   employment.   The   Methodist   Church   claimed   34.7%   membership   and   the   Baptist   Church   34.7%,   the   Presbyterian   Church   8.4%,   and other   denominations   1.4%   indicating   that   79.2   of   the   people   of Alderson   belonged   to   a   church.   Six   per   cent   of Alderson’s   population   were   members   of a union and 74% of the families owned their own homes.   The   census   figures   show Alderson   had   its   largest   population   in   the   1940   census,   1493.   Below   are   the   comparisons   of   population:   1920   -   1401;      1930 - 1458;  1940 - 1493;  1950 - 1489;  1960 - 1225. On   May   28,   1964,   West   Virginia   University   released   estimates   of   the   population   as   of   July   1,   1963   for   West   Virginia.   Greenbrier   County   had   lost 4.45%   population   from   1960   to   July   1,   1963.   If   Alderson   lost   no   more   than   the   county   average   it   had   a   population   of   about   1170   according   to   the University’s estimate. The   oldest   citizen   of   Alderson   is   Anna   Eliza   Settles   who   was   102   years   old   May   29,   1964.   She   was   born   in   St.   Lion,   Virginia,   May   29,   1862,   Anna Eliza Keene. She married George Washington Settles.   *In   comparison   West   Virginia   had   a   net   loss   of   7%   and   Greenbrier   County   12.3%   loss   in   population   from   1950   to   1960.   Ref:   U.   S.   Census   1940, 1950, 1960.
The contents contained in this series is copyrighted and the sole property of The Greenbrier Historical Society - Lewisburg, WV Used by permission - November 18, 2008
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The History of Alderson, West Virginia From The Journal Of The Greenbrier Historical Society On  Alderson, West Virginia Written by Kenneth D. Swope - Compiled and Transcribed by Barry Worrell