Wardensville in Hardy County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Population Center

Photographed By Craig Swain, October 11, 2009

1. Population Center Marker

Inscription. The population center of the United State was in present West Virginia four times as it moved westward across the nation: near Wardensville in 1820; at Smoke Hole in 1830; west of Buckhannon in 1840; near Burning Springs in 1850.

Erected by West Virginia Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 4.805′ N, 78° 35.525′ W. Marker was in Wardensville, West Virginia, in Hardy County. Marker was on Main Street (U.S. 48), on the right when traveling north. Located in front of the county information center and conference center. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Wardensville WV 26851, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. Wardensville (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Wardensville (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Son of Man (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lost and Found (approx.

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3½ miles away); West Virginia (Hardy County) / Virginia (approx. 4.2 miles away); Capon Springs (approx. 6.3 miles away); Capon Lake Whipple Truss Bridge (approx. 6.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wardensville.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Centers of Population. If the United States map were perfectly balanced on a point, this point would be its physical centroid. Currently this point is located in Phelps County, Missouri, in the east-central part of the state. However, when Washington, D.C. was chosen as the federal capital of the United States in 1790, the center of the U.S. population was in Kent County, Maryland, a mere 47 miles (76 km) east-northeast of the new capital. Over the last two centuries, the mean center of United States population has progressed westward and, since 1930, southwesterly, reflecting population drift. (Submitted on October 12, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Markers in front of the Visitor Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, October 11, 2009

2. Markers in front of the Visitor Center

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 17, 2020

3. Population Center Marker

Unfortunately, the marker has been removed or is missing.

Mean Center of Population for the United States image. Click for full size.

the Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau

4. Mean Center of Population for the United States

Click on image to enlarge. This map shows county boundaries.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,222 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on July 17, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on December 14, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.