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Morgantown is a city located in Monongalia County , West Virginia on the banks of the Monongahela River . As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 26,809. Morgantown is home to West Virginia University which constitues 913 acres (3.7 km&2) of the city and vicinity, and with the fall 2005 enrollment added an additional population of 26,051 students from every state, the District Of Columbia , and 89 other nations. Morgantown is the County Seat of Monongalia County . The city was founded by Zackquill Morgan . During the 1970s , the U.S. Department Of Transportation built an experimental Personal Rapid Transit system in the city, citing the area's variety of seasonal Climate s and different geographic elevations as factors in testing the technology's viability. The Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) has been in use since 1975 . GEOGRAPHY Morgantown is located at 39°38'1" North, 79°57'2" West (39.633696, -79.950670). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 26.2 Km&2 (10.1 Mi&2 ). 25.4 km&2 (9.8 mi&2) of it is land and 0.8 km&2 (0.3 mi&2) of it is water. The total area is 3.16% water. DEMOGRAPHICS As of the Census of 2000, there were 26,809 people, 10,782 households, and 4,183 families residing in the city. The Population Density was 1,056.2/km&2 (2,736.0/mi&2). There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 461.8/km&2 (1,196.2/mi&2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.48% White , 4.15% African American , 0.17% Native American , 4.15% Asian , 0.05% Pacific Islander , 0.51% from Other Races , and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 10,782 households out of which 15.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.1% were Married Couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.2% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% 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 2.76. Morgantown's age distribution, which is heavily influenced by the presence of West Virginia University, is: 11.1% under the age of 18, 44.7% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 13.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $20,649, and the median income for a family was $44,622. Males had a median income of $33,268 versus $24,944 for females. The Per Capita Income for the city was $14,459. 38.4% of the population and 15.0% of families were below the Poverty Line . 23.3% of those under the age of 18 and 8.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Note, however, that traditional poverty statistics can be misleading when applied to communities with large student populations, such as Morgantown. HISTORY Morgantown is closely tied to the Anglo-French struggle for this territory. Until the Treaty Of Paris in 1763 , what is now known as Morgantown was greatly contested among settlers and Native Americans , as well as the English and the French. The treaty decided the issue in favor of the English, but Indian fighting continued almost to the beginning of the American Revolution . Several forts were built in the area after this conflict. Fort Pierpont was constructed towards the Cheat River , in 1769 . Fort Coburn was built in 1770 , near Dorsey's Knob. Fort Morgan was established in 1772 at the present site of Morgantown. Fort Dinwiddle, north several miles at Stewartstown, was built in 1772. Fort Martin was established in 1773 , several miles north on the Monongahela River. Fort Burris was erected in 1774 in the Suncrest area of Morgantown. Fort Kern was built in the Greenmont area of Morgantown in 1774, as well as other small forts that served the purpose at the time. Morgantown was settled in 1772 by Zaquill Morgan . The Virginia General Assembly chartered the territory in 1785 and the first lot sale was held. Morgan received the charter for the establishment of the town to be called Morgan's Town. The direct result of the Virginia Charter is the present city of Morgantown. Notable early structures that still stand in Morgantown include the "old Stone House," built in 1795 by Jacob Nuce . The structure stood on the street known as "Long Alley," but is known today as Chestnut Street. Another structure that has been well-restored is the home built by John Rogers on Foundry Street. This structure was built in 1840 and is now occupied by the Dering Funeral Home. EDUCATION The city is served by Monongalia County Schools. Their website can be found at http://boe.mono.k12.wv.us/ Enrollment in the Monongalia County Schools totals 10,076 students, including 156 adult students at the Monongalia County Technical Education Center (April, 2005). Three of Monongalia County’s 23 schools have earned Exemplary Achievement status, according to the West Virginia Office of Educational Performance Audits’ (OEPA) report issued November, 2004. Easton Elementary, Suncrest Primary and Easton Elementary were among only 29 schools in the state to achieve Exemplary status. The Monongalia County Schools employs 897 professional personnel and 490 service personnel (April, 2005). With a total of 1,387 employees, the Monongalia County Schools rank among the county’s top three employers (September, 2004). Personnel costs account for 85-88% of Monongalia County Schools’ approximate $100,000,000.00 annual budget. West Virginia University This is a public, land-grant institution, founded in 1867. With an operating budget of approximately $654 million as of the mid-2000s, it also has $150 million annually in sponsored contracts and research grants conducted by faculty members. Fall 2005 enrollment was 26,051, with students from all 55 state counties, 50 states plus the District of Columbia, and 89 other nations. Basic figures regarding the student body:
The 2005-06 curriculum is supported by 14 colleges and schools offering 171 bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs in the arts and sciences; business and economics; creative arts; engineering and mineral resources; human resources and education; journalism; law; agriculture, forestry, and consumer sciences; dentistry; medicine; nursing; pharmacy; physical education; plus programs at Potomac State College. FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM MORGANTOWN
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