Staunton, Virginia

Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,853 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is pronounced (using IPA transcription) , rather than as the spelling would suggest. It is the county seat of Augusta County. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Staunton (along with nearby Waynesboro) with Augusta county for statistical purposes. The city was originally named Augusta Courthouse and was the westernmost courthouse in British North America prior to the American Revolution.

In 1908, Staunton was the first city in the world to adopt a city manager form of government, an outgrowth of the Progressive movement, which has been repeated in many locations since.^* It is known for being the birthplace of the 28th U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson and the home of the Mary Baldwin College, a women's college that features a number of unique programs, including the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership and the Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. Staunton is also home to the older of the two campuses of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind. (The newer campus is in Hampton, Virginia.)

Geography

Staunton is located at (38.15792, -79.07645).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 51.0 km² (19.7 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,853 people, 9,676 households, and 5,766 families residing in the city. The population density was 467.3/km² (1,210.3/mi²). There were 10,427 housing units at an average density of 204.3/km² (529.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.29% White, 13.95% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

There were 9,676 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,941, and the median income for a family was $44,422. Males had a median income of $30,153 versus $22,079 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,161. About 7.7% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Tourism

Tourism is one of Staunton's highest appeals. It is home to Blackfriars Playhouse, the only existing replica of Shakespeare's Blackfriars Theatre. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library is open for visitors, as well as the Museum of American Frontier Culture, an insider's look at life in early America.

Staunton is also the official home of country music legends the Statler Brothers who, until 1994, provided free concerts at the annual Fourth of July celebration with guest hosts that included many of the greats of country music. The city is where Statlers Don Reid, Harold Reid, and Phil Balsley grew up and still make their home.

Staunton is home to the Staunton Braves of the Valley Baseball League. The city also boasts a number of antique shops, boutiques, and restaurants.

Film

The city maintains strict building codes in the historic downtown area so that the area can be used for period films. This effort included an enormous project in the 1990's known locally as The Big Dig in which all of the modern utilities were put underground to hide them. The historic downtown area of Staunton was used in the American Civil War film Gods and Generals.