Clendenin, West Virginia Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published July 2, 2019 · Updated September 5, 2024

Clendenin, West Virginia is a small city located in the Kanawha County of the state. It is situated on the southwestern side of the Elk River, about 20 miles north of Charleston. The town has a population of around 2,000 people and is spread over an area of 1.3 square miles.

The geography of Clendenin consists mainly of rolling hills and valleys with some flat land in between. The climate in Clendenin is typically temperate with hot summers and cold winters. Snowfall can occur during the winter months but it does not last for long periods of time.

The history of Clendenin dates back to 1831 when a group of settlers arrived in the area and established a settlement known as “Clay” or “Clayville” due to its proximity to clay deposits along the Elk River. The town was renamed Clendenin after Colonel William Clendennin who was killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant during Lord Dunmore’s War in 1774.

Politically, Clendenin is part of West Virginia’s 3rd congressional district and is represented by Republican Carol Miller in Congress. The mayor is currently Robert Jankovich who has been in office since 2011 and serves alongside four other members on the City Council.

The economy in Clendenin relies heavily on tourism thanks to its close proximity to many nearby attractions such as Hawks Nest State Park and Babcock State Park which offer plenty for visitors to do as well as picturesque views from their summits overlooking the valley below. In addition, there are also several businesses located within town that provide employment opportunities for locals such as restaurants, retail stores, service providers, etc..

Schools in Clendenin are part of the Kanawha County School District which includes two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school which have all received high ratings from parents and students alike for their excellent education programs and facilities offered by them.

There are several landmarks located throughout Clendenin that are worth visiting including Stump House Cave which was discovered by local miners back in 1819 while they were digging coal nearby; it has since become a popular tourist attraction due to its unique features such as underground pools filled with crystal-clear water and rock formations made up entirely out of limestone stalactites & stalagmites; another popular landmark is Gandy Creek Bridge which was built back in 1883 using only wooden planks & logs; it stands today as one of West Virginia’s most iconic bridges due to its unique design & construction methods used at that time period.

Population: 1,116. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,056 (-5.4% change)
Males: 527 (47.2%), Females: 589 (52.8%)

Kanawha County

Zip code: 25045

Demographics

Median resident age: 41.8 years
Median household income: $32,000
Median house value: $67,300

Population by Race

Races in Clendenin:

White Non-Hispanic (98.8%)
Two or more races (0.7%)
American Indian (0.6%)

Ancestries: United States (19.0%), German (9.5%), Irish (9.5%), English (7.4%), Italian (4.8%), French Canadian (1.3%).

Elevation: 629 feet

Land area: 1.3 square miles

Population by Education

Clendenin, West Virginia is a small town located in Kanawha County. According to the 2010 census, the population of Clendenin was 1,204. The majority of the population is white (87.4%) with a small percentage of African American (6.2%), Hispanic (2.6%), and Asian (1.9%) residents. The median age for Clendenin is 40 years old with approximately 40% of the population being between 18 and 34 years old. In terms of education, nearly a quarter (24%) of the population has a high school diploma or equivalent, while 10% have some college or an associate degree and 7% have a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income in Clendenin is $33,000 with 11% living below the poverty line.

The major industries that drive Clendenin’s economy are healthcare and social services; retail trade; construction; educational services; public administration; and manufacturing. The largest employers in town are Clendenin Elementary School, Walmart, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, and WVU Medicine-Charleston Area Medical Center/University Health Associates Incorporated which provide jobs to many residents in town as well as those living in surrounding communities. Additionally, there are many small businesses that contribute to the local economy such as restaurants, stores, auto repair shops and other services that cater to both locals and visitors alike.

For population 25 years and over in Clendenin

High school or higher: 79.6%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.1%
Unemployed: 8.0%
Mean travel time to work: 34.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Clendenin town

Never married: 20.4%
Now married: 56.5%
Separated: 1.6%
Widowed: 10.5%
Divorced: 11.0%

0.3% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -11 (-1.0%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Clendenin:

ROANE GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 21 miles; SPENCER, WV)
HIGHLAND HOSP (about 21 miles; CHARLESTON, WV)
CAMC WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (about 21 miles; CHARLESTON, WV)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Clendenin:

YEAGER (about 19 miles; CHARLESTON, WV; Abbreviation: CRW)
RALEIGH COUNTY MEMORIAL (about 52 miles; BECKLEY, WV; Abbreviation: BKW)
MID-OHIO VALLEY REGIONAL (about 59 miles; PARKERSBURG, WV; Abbreviation: PKB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Clendenin:

BOGGS FIELD (about 23 miles; SPENCER, WV; Abbreviation: 14P)
SUMMERSVILLE (about 39 miles; SUMMERSVILLE, WV; Abbreviation: SXL)
JACKSON COUNTY (about 44 miles; RAVENSWOOD, WV; Abbreviation: I18)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Clendenin:

WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE (about 21 miles; INSTITUTE, WV; Full-time enrollment: 3,688)
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY AT PARKERSBURG (about 55 miles; PARKERSBURG, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,306)
MARSHALL UNIVERSITY (about 76 miles; HUNTINGTON, WV; Full-time enrollment: 12,361)
CONCORD COLLEGE (about 76 miles; ATHENS, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,723)
OHIO UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 78 miles; ATHENS, OH; Full-time enrollment: 18,721)
BLUEFIELD STATE COLLEGE (about 84 miles; BLUEFIELD, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,096)
HOCKING TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 90 miles; NELSONVILLE, OH; Full-time enrollment: 4,050)

Schools

Public high school in Clendenin:

HERBERT HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 708; Location: 275 ELK RIVER RD S; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Clendenin:

CLENDENIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 328; Location: 503 MAYWOOD AVENUE; Grades: PK – 05)