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Pocahontas, Virginia
Town
Pocahontas, Virginia Post Office
Location of Pocahontas, Virginia
Coordinates: 37°18′18″N 81°20′23″W / 37.30500°N 81.33972°W / 37.30500; -81.33972Coordinates: 37°18′18″N 81°20′23″W / 37.30500°N 81.33972°W / 37.30500; -81.33972
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Tazewell
Government
• Mayor	Benjamin Gibson[1]
Area
• Total	0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
• Land	0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	2,329 ft (710 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	389
• Density	729.1/sq mi (281.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24635
Area code(s)	276
FIPS code	51-63288[2]
GNIS feature ID	1493440[3]
Website	http://pocahontasva.org

Pocahontas is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, United States. It was named for Chief Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas, who lived in the 17th-century Jamestown Settlement. She married John Rolfe, and they were among the ancestors of many of the First Families of Virginia.

The population was 389 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area, which has a population of 107,578.

History

A railroad spur line constructed to Pocahontas helped start this region's coal boom in the late 19th century. The Norfolk and Western Railway (now Norfolk Southern) became nationally prominent during the 1880s. The Pocahontas large, two-state coal region was named after this town. The town reached its peak of population in 1920 and has declined markedly since 1960.

The Pocahontas Historic District and Pocahontas Mine No. 1 are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[4]

Geography

Pocahontas is located at 37°18′18″N 81°20′23″W / 37.304997°N 81.339802°W / 37.304997; -81.339802 (37.304997, −81.339802).^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 square mile (1.6 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 441 people, 190 households, and 122 families residing in the town. The population density was 729.1 people per square mile (283.8/km²). There were 230 housing units at an average density of 380.3 per square mile (148.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.15% White, 2.04% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.91% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.81% of the population.

There were 190 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,917, and the median income for a family was $30,357. Males had a median income of $22,232 versus $17,321 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,124. About 19.8% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

The Town of Pocahontas owns and operates the Pocahontas Exhibition Mine and Museum, a National Historic Landmark and Virginia's official "coal heritage zone." The "show mine," as many locals call it, features tours from retired coal miners into the historic mine that served as the birthplace of the world-famous Pocahontas #3 coal. This was used to heat homes across the United States and was the chosen fuel of the United States Navy. The exhibition mine, open from April–August annually, features a 13-foot-tall (4.0 m) coal seam. There is also a museum and education center located in the mine's former powerhouse.

The town also has a registered Virginia Historic site, which is the Pocahontas Cemetery. The cemetery features graves that are more than 100 years old. It includes the mass grave of coal miners killed in a mine explosion in Pocahontas on March 13, 1884.

The town is also home to St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Church, which features ten life-sized murals on the ceiling and walls of the church. It was built by Hungarian immigrants who came to work in the coal mines. The church holds an annual Hungarian cabbage roll dinner to honor the European heritage of workers in the coalfields.

Festivals

On the last Saturday in April, the town hosts the annual Pocahontas Indian Run, a five-mile run through the historic town and scenic community that attracts runners from across the United States. The event also features a three-mile Indian Walk and a Papoose Run for children aged 6–12. In the evening, a memorial ceremony is held at the Pocahontas Cemetery for the 114 miners killed in the 1884 mine explosion.

Pocahontas celebrates July 4 with a fireworks celebration. The combination of a small town atmosphere, street dance, bands, home cooking, and sparklers for the children provides for a unique experience.

Each Labor Day, Pocahontas is home to the Coal Miners Reunion. Retired coal miners and railroad workers from across the United States are honored here by a town parade and luncheon. The festival also includes special recognition of the oldest and longest-serving miners or railroad workers present, and stump speeches from local political candidates.

The Pocahontas Lions Club hosts a Car Show and Flea Market along with the Pumpkin Festival in October.

Government

The Town of Pocahontas has a mayor/council form of government. The mayor is elected and serves as the town manager. The current mayor is Benjamin A Gibson.

The Town of Pocahontas also operates a water treatment plant and distribution system for the town and surrounding communities in both Virginia and West Virginia. In 2009 and 2013 the Virginia Department of Health awarded the Town with a Bronze Water Performance Award (3rd place in the State of Virginia) for excellence in granular media filtration. In 2011 the West Virginia Department of Health recognized the Town for their efforts taken to protect its source water and safeguard the public.

In 2006, the town made history when it elected an all-female administration.

Recent development

The Pocahontas State Correctional Center was completed in the summer of 2007, and officially opened on September 5, 2007. The medium-security prison can house around 1,000 inmates.

Future development

Plans have been made to develop a "tourist train" to operate between nearby Bramwell, West Virginia in Mercer County and Pocahontas. A railroad engine has recently been donated towards the project, and the project is endorsed by former Democrat U.S. Congressman Frederick "Rick" Boucher from Virginia's 9th congressional district. Virginia also created a "Tourist Train Commission," for the project.

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development awarded the Town of Pocahontas with a $1,000,000 grant to help fund their downtown revitalization. In 2012 Thomas Burns Childress, Tazewell County Northern District Supervisor, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Historic Pocahontas, Inc. to preserve buildings slated for demolition and redevelop them instead. The lawsuit stopped the revitalization project, which was never completed. In 2016 the lawsuit was dismissed, as one of the historic buildings had deteriorated to the point where it had to be demolished for public safety.^[8]

The Pocahontas ATV Spearhead Trail System was opened in 2014. It will eventually encompass 57 miles of ATV trails, and will be connected to the Hatfield and McCoy trail system in West Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Transportation awarded the town funding to complete a walking trail which will link the Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine to the Laurel Meadows Park. Plans are being developed to link the trail to Boissevain, Virginia.

Representation in other media

Pocahontas was the setting and filming location of the 1992 film, The Turning, starring Gillian Anderson, Academy Award nominee Tess Harper, Karen Allen, Michael Dolan, and Raymond J. Barry. It was written and directed by L.A. Puopolo, and co-written by Chris Ceraso, the author of the play Home Fires Burning, which was the basis of the film. Scenes were filmed in various locations in Pocahontas, and in the neighboring communities of Abbs Valley, Virginia and Nemours, West Virginia. The drama's plot is based on a Neo-Nazi who returns to his hometown of Pocahontas, where he finds his family dissolving and decides to take action to help them.

Notable people

• 
  Frank Oceak, professional baseball player and coach


• 
  Frank Soos, author^[9]


• 
  Zollie Toth, professional football player


• 
  Teddy Weatherford, jazz pianist

Pocahontas in 2014

References

External links

• Pocahontas Virginia Video DanTraveling.com


• Pocahontas Exhibition Mine & Museum


• Pocahontas Middle/High School