Point Pleasant is a city located in Mason County, West Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 4,637. It is the county seat of Mason County6.
Point Pleasant is most famous for a series of local legends centered on the 1967 collapse of the Silver Bridge, which killed 46 people. According to these legends, a moth-like humanoid was seen by several Point Pleasant residents in the weeks leading up to the disaster. The creature is said to have predicted the collapse. This is the source of the book and movie, The Mothman Prophecies.
Geography
Point Pleasant is located at 38°51'27" North, 82°7'43" West (38.857527, -82.128571)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 km² (3.1 mi²). 6.2 km² (2.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 22.73% water.
Demographics
As of the census1 of 2000, there are 4,637 people, 2,107 households, and 1,310 families residing in the city. The population density is 752.3/km² (1,945.6/mi²). There are 2,313 housing units at an average density of 375.2/km² (970.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 96.57% White, 1.90% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.54% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,107 households out of which 26.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% are married couples living together, 14.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% are non-families. 34.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.18 and the average family size is 2.80.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there are 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 75.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $27,022, and the median income for a family is $33,527. Males have a median income of $31,657 versus $16,607 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,692. 24.2% of the population and 22.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 37.9% are under the age of 18 and 13.3% are 65 or older.
