Prichard, West Virginia

Prichard is a census-designated place (CDP) in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 527.[2] It is located along the Big Sandy River and U.S. Route 52. It is part of the Huntington–Ashland, WV–KY–OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which had a population of 287,702 according to the US Census (2010).

Prichard, West Virginia
Census-designated place (CDP)
Prichard, West Virginia
Coordinates: 38°14′24″N 82°35′55″W
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Wayne
Area [1]
• Total	1.263 sq mi (3.27 km^2)
• Land	1.107 sq mi (2.87 km^2)
• Water	0.156 sq mi (0.40 km^2)
Elevation	587 ft (179 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	527
• Density	420/sq mi (160/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	25555
Area code(s)	304 & 681
GNIS feature ID	1555412[3]

The community was named after one James Pritchard.[4]

Education

Prichard Elementary School opened in 1958, replacing a two-room schoolhouse. It is the lone academic facility in Prichard. Once students reach 6th grade, they attend either Buffalo Middle School, Wayne Middle School, or Fort Gay Middle School. Upon reaching 9th grade, Prichard residents attend either Spring Valley High School, Wayne High School or Tolsia High School.

Economy

With only a limited number of employment opportunities within Prichard, the average work commute for residents was 38.7.

In September 1999, Senator Jay Rockefeller announced that Okuno International would open a hydraulic cylinder plant in Prichard, offering 50 new jobs and eventually expanding to 100.[5]

Aplicare, a manufacturer of topical antiseptic and personal care products, operated a 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m²) facility which, according to their website, manufactured “all of our bottled antiseptics, our personal care product line, and several unit dose products including lubricating jelly and antiseptic hand gel. This facility closed in 2018”[6]

In 2003, Allevard opened a coil spring and stabilizer bar plant in Prichard originally employing approximately 90 people. In May 2008, Allevard announced plans to expand employment to approximately 150 people, but in 2009, due to the slumping economy, had to instead reduce its staff to about 40.[7]

In January 2008, construction began on the Heartland Corridor, a train route that leads from the Virginia coast to Columbus, Ohio. The corridor will offer existing lines the ability to carry more cargo by double-stacking boxcars. An intermodal facility is planned for Prichard, to allow for the cars to be easily transferred between rail, highway, waterway, and airway transportation.[8]

In December 2015, Norfolk Southern Railway opened a new intermodal facility in the center of Prichard to boost employment and economics in Prichard and in the rest of Wayne County. NS began construction on the intermodal facility in 2010 and lasted for 5 years. Still not open.

Government

As an unincorporated community, Prichard has no city government. Law enforcement is provided from the county and state levels.

References

1. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 507.
5. Press Release - Rockefeller and Underwood Announce New Company to Locate in Wayne County Archived 2010-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
6. Aplicare - About Us
7. Tri-State job growth will come in increments - The Herald-Dispatch
8. Heartland Corridor construction begins - The Herald-Dispatch