Area Data & Statistics Study 

Work force - Number of workers (Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming counties)

2006 - Civilian work force - 76,220

2006 - Unemployment - 5.06%

5 County population - 192,068

Raleigh County population - 79,066

Beckley population - 19,000

Skills - Types of skilled workers by trade

Trade, Transportation and Utilities - 11,164

Education and Health Services - 5,736

Government - 9,351

Leisure and Hospitality - 5,014

Professional and Business Services - 3,523

Natural Resources and Mining - 4,477

Construction - 3,024

Manufacturing - 3,227

Financial Activities - 1,677

Other Services - 1,491

Information - 713

School standings / scores - graduation rates

4 Public High Schools

11 private schools (elementary through high school) - 87% graduation rate

2 Universities

Mountain State University

Concord University

5 Colleges

Appalachian Bible College

Bluefield State College

Valley College of Technology

            West Virginia Graduate College

New River Community & Technological College

University Mall with 8 colleges and universities from across the state represented onsite

Commercial property inventory - Average number available at any time by type

Industrial Parks

Pinecrest Business & Technology Park – Grey Flats Road:

211 Total Acres; 100 Acres Available

Raleigh County Airport Industrial Park:

196 Total Acres; 23 Acres Available

Raleigh County Airport Industrial Park West:

326 Total Acres; 311 Acres Available

Hylton Site – Airport Road (Proposed Industrial Park):

142 Total Acres; 142 Acres Available

White Oak Land Site – Bradley Site (Proposed Industrial Park):

64 Total Acres; 64 Acres Available

Local Infrastructure

4 hospitals in the county, including a VA medical center

Wide variety of special services available including cancer care, dialysis and rehabilitation.

City (multiple), county and state police resident in the county.

Fire departments, both city and volunteer are located throughout the county.

Ambulance services are private, and there are 3 available in the county.

County wide 911 service is available

Transportation capacities - I64 / I77 / I79 / Rt. 19 /  Airports

Within a days drive to 3 of the 4 major markets in the country.

305 miles to Washington D.C.

Interstates

I77

Parkersburg, WV - 134 miles

Charleston, WV - 57 miles

Charlotte, NC - 209 miles

Columbia, SC - 300 miles

I64

Louisville, KY - 303 miles

Lexington, KY - 231 miles

Huntington, WV - 109 miles

Charleston, WV - 57 miles

Charlottesville, VA - 191 miles

Richmond, VA - 261 miles

Norfolk / Virginia Beach, VA - 353 miles

Major Highways

Route 19 Corridor to 79

Airport within 60 miles

Beckley / Raleigh County Municipal Airport

US Air Express

Yeager Airport - Charleston, WV - 64 Interstate miles - 2 runways

USAirways

US Air Express

United Express

Atlantic Southeast

Comair

Northwest Airlink

Continental

Greenbrier Valley Airport Lewisburg, WV - 45 Interstate miles

Delta

USAirways    

Housing prices - with average number that are available by price range

Housing Sales 1/1/05 through 12/31/06 Beckley Board of Realtors

Below $70,000  523  35.6%

$70,000 to $90,000  193  13.1%

$90,000 to $120,000  181  12.3%

$120,000 to $160,000   250  17.0%

$160,000 to $250,000  196  13.3%

$250,000 to $400,000   99  6.7%

Over $400,000              29  2.0%

Median price $138,400

Tax rate 1.4908, based on 60% of appraised value.

A $150,000 house will be taxed at approximately $1,342 annually.

Cost of living - showing comparisons to other areas

Business costs are 14% below the national average

Living costs are 8% below the national average

Socio-economic makeup of the area - ages; races; wages

County total population - 79,220

Races:

White - 71,006 - 89.6%

Black or African American - 6,753 - 8.5%

Asian, Hawaiian other Pacific Islander - 581 - .7%

Other races - 99 - .1%

Two or more races - 634 - .8%

Ages:

Up to 14 - 13,927 - 17.6%

15 to 24 - 10,007 - 12.6%

25 to 34 - 10,807 -13.8%

35 to 44 - 11,871 - 15.0%

45 to 54 - 12,541 - 15.8%

55 to 64 - 7,801 - 9.8%

65 and over - 12,200 - 15.5%

Median age - 39.5 years

Crime Rate: West Virginia has achieved the lowest crime rate in the U.S. for more than 40 years; only in 2000 did West Virginia fall to #2 for the year.

Beckley is a “Designated Retirement Community”.

Entertainment and Cultural Amenities - Attractions & Things To Do

Parks

City - New River Park, Freedom Skatepark and community parks.

County - Fitzpatrick Park, Lake Stephens, Coal City

State - Little Beaver State Park, Pipestem Resort Park, Twin Falls, Camp Creek, Hawks Nest, Babcock, Pinnacle Rock, Carnifax Ferry, Droop Mountain, Beartown

National - Grandview.

Rivers: New River Gorge National River / New River Gorge Bridge / Gauley River National Recreation Area / Bluestone Dam & National Scenic River

Lakes: Lake Stephens, Summersville, Bluestone, Plum Orchard, R D Bailey, Flat Top (private)

Trails: Walking / biking - Lewis McManus Trail, Greenbrier River Trail, NPS, ATV - Hatfields-McCoys Trail, Burning Rock, Historic – Coal Heritage trail

Activities: Whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, rappelling, fishing, hunting, biking, horseback riding, New River jet boats, golf (Raleigh County – Glade Springs, randview, Brier Patch, Beaver Creek); nearby – Twin Falls, The Greenbrier, White Oak, Pipestem, Hawks Nest, Mountain State Miniature Golf, caving – Lost World, Organ,             bowling, snow skiing & tubing at Winterplace,

Attractions: Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, Youth Museum of Southern WV, Glade Springs Resort, Wildwood House Museum, Veterans Museum, Tamarack, Historic Districts, Wineries – Daniel Vineyard John Henry Tunnel Park, Marquee Cinemas, Beckley Motor Speedway

Art / Performances:  Theatre WV, Tamarack, Beckley Concert Association, Beckley Art Group, Historic Fayette Theatre, SMT Arts Center, Carnegie, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Summit Players

Numerous Festivals / special events – see calendar of events

Various Shopping areas:  Various attractions, sports & cultural activities are within one-hour drive in Charleston, Lewisburg, & Mercer County.

Additional Information by Contacting:

Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce

304-252-7328 / 877-987-3847 / chamber@brccc.com
 

4 County Economic Development Authority

304-254-8115

Southern West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau

304-252-2244 / 1-800-VISIT WV / www.visitwv.com

City of Beckley

304-256-1750 / 304-256-1776