Huntington: Economy

Major Industries and Commercial Activity

Huntington and Cabell County have long been known for their strong manufacturing base, although now the service sector makes up the largest percentage of jobs. Steel and glass were industries that grew in the city's Industrial Revolution origins, as did the transportation sector, which created the town. New industries are being lured to the area with economic incentives. The health care industry in the area continues to grow, with health care organizations being among the area's top employers.

Incentive Programs—New and Existing Companies

Local programs

A variety of incentive programs are available to companies who establish new businesses in the Huntington area, including free land programs, relocation grants, financing of equipment, rent breaks, and others.

State programs

West Virginia has a number of state tax exemption and incentive programs, such as the Warehouse Freeport Tax Exemption on goods traveling through the state, the Manufacturing Sales Tax Exemption on materials or equipment, and the Strategic R&D Credit program. Companies that relocate their corporate headquarters are eligible for the Corporate Headquarters Credit.

Job training programs

The Governor's Guaranteed Work Force Program offers one-stop service for all economic development-related job training in the Huntington area. The program provides funds for up to 100 percent of the cost for training new or existing employees in qualifying companies, up to a total of $2,000. The Cabell County Career Technology Center provides vocational and technology training, while the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing helps small- and medium-sized manufacturers with technology and technical training. The Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialists Training Program offers on-the-job training to child care professionals. Area colleges also provide many job training programs.

Development Projects

The Huntington Area Development Council (HADCO) has been an important factor in economic growth in recent years. Two major projects that have recently come to fruition are Kinetic Park and Pullman Square. Kinetic Park is a 95-acre technology and business park and retail center, which in 2005 will see its first occupants build and begin business activities. In 2004, after years of planning, Pullman Square opened, a $60 million open-air retail and entertainment complex that hopes to rejuvenate the downtown area. HADCO and Marshall University have joined forces to promote and develop the biotech industry in the area, and together will build the Velocity Center in Kinetic Park to encourage business growth. HADCO boasts that in 10 years the organization has brought 9,000 new jobs to Huntington; has brought in 30 new companies; and has leased, sold or built 1.7 million feet of building space. Other recent developments include the re-opening of a former glass bottle factory as a steel plant by Capresa, a Spanish steelmaker based in Barcelona, and two new call centers for Amazon.com and Global Contact Services.

Items and goods produced: steel, glass, railroad equipment

Economic Development Information: Huntington Area Development Council, 916 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400, Huntington, WV 25701; telephone (304)525-1161; fax (304)525-1163; email [email protected]. Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce, 720 Fourth Ave., Huntington, WV 25701; telephone (304)525-5131

Commercial Shipping

Huntington's central location in the heart of the Tri-State region of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky affords it a convenient midway point between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Louisville, Kentucky. Products and people move through the Tri-State region's efficient transportation network that includes the Tri-State Airport; an interstate highway system that links the area to East Coast, Southern, and Midwestern markets; an advanced rail network; and the largest tonnage barge port on the Ohio River. In addition, Huntington is within a 24 hour drive of approximately 44 percent of the nation's industrial market, and 37 percent of the consumer market.

Labor Force and Employment Outlook

The outlook for the Huntington area looks bright, despite the city's continuing decline in population. HADCO's development plans and joint ventures with Marshall University offer the promise of bringing new technology and biotech firms to the area. Higher energy prices in the mid-2000s could bring much needed capital into West Virginia, through the coal industry. In this case, investment in new business sectors and redevelopment of the old industrial base could provide a boom to the Tri-State region. Employment rates in Cabell County have remained fairly stable in the last few years, but there has also been a -0.7% decrease in population between 2000 and 2003. Since 2000, only 22.4% of the adult population over 25 have bachelor degrees; more education and training programs may be needed to keep technology-based jobs in the city.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Huntington metropolitan area labor force, 2003 annual averages.

Size of nonagricultural labor force: 121,400

Number of workers employed in . . .

construction and mining: 6,800

manufacturing: 10,600

trade, transportation and utilities: 26,100

information: 1,600

financial activities: 5,300

business and professional services: 11,000

educational and health services: 20,300

leisure and hospitality: 10,900

other services: 8,100

government: 20,700

Average hourly earnings of production workers employed in manufacturing: $15.48

Unemployment rate: 6.1% (January 2005)

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Huntington is somewhat lower than comparable cities in the United States.

The following is a summary of data regarding several key cost of living factors for the Huntington area.

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Average House Price: $232,360

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Cost of Living Index: 96.7 (U.S. average = 100.0)

State income tax rate: Ranges from 3.0 to 6.5%

State sales tax rate: 6.0%

Local income tax rate: none

Local sales tax rate: none

Property tax rate: $.035088 per $100 of assessed valuation (calculated on 60% of market value)

Economic Information: Huntington Area Development Council, 916 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400, Huntington, WV 25701; telephone (304)525-1161; fax (304)525-1163

Huntington: Recreation

Sightseeing

Huntington has a range of attractions for the history buff, the arts lover, and families. A number of the city's historic buildings are open to the public and available for tours. The Jenkins Plantation Museum is a brick mansion built in 1835 and is part of the Civil War Discovery Trail. Featured are tours, reenactments and special events. In 2005, the museum is undergoing restoration to restore its original nineteenth-century appearance. The Madie Caroll House, run by the Huntington Park District, was floated into town on a barge in 1810 and survived an attack by federal troops in 1861. The building was home to the Caroll family, existed as an inn, and was the first house of Catholic worship in Cabell County. The Cabell County Courthouse was built in 1901 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Heritage Village, across from Riverfront Park, consists of the restored original B & O Railway station and Huntington's first bank, reportedly robbed by Jesse James in 1875. On display are a period locomotive and Pullman car, and shops and restaurants draw visitors.

Heritage Farm Museum and Village displays Appalachian farm culture by preserving 16 buildings from the 1800s, including a schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, meeting hall, a mill, and barns. Collections of farm equipment, a petting zoo, a country store, and four bed and breakfasts are part of the attractions. The Rose Garden at Ritter Park has existed for over 70 years and features more than 2,000 rose bushes. Blenko Glass Company is home to artisans creating hand-made glassware, which can be viewed from an observation area. Camden Park, West Virginia's only amusement park, has been in existence since 1903 but is still going strong with 18 major rides, a Kiddieland area with 9 rides, and a Midway full of games and food. The Tri-City Racetrack and Gaming Center is in nearby Cross Lanes, and features Greyhound racing, slot machines, and video gambling.

Arts and Culture

The 5th Avenue Theater Company, a non-profit production company, specializes in musicals and theater for children and families. The company performs in the historic Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium in Huntington's City Hall. The Renaissance Theater at Marshall University hosts plays, films, musicians, dance companies, and other touring productions through the Marshall Artists Series. Students from Marshall's Department of Theater also put on productions at the University's venues. Huntington Outdoor Theater presents musicals every July in the Ritter Park Amphitheater. Free Spirit Productions presents classics and new plays at venues in the area, including Marshall University and the Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington Dance Theater performs and teaches ballet and modern dance. In nearby Ashland, Kentucky, the 1,400-seat Paramount Arts Center presents plays, music, and dance performances from national and local groups.

The Huntington Symphony Orchestra presents an average of six classical and three pops performances each season, with classical performances presented at Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium, and pops shows at Harris Riverfront Park in the summer. Marshall University's many ensembles showcase jazz, chamber, orchestral, and choral music. The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District hosts music performances at Veteran's Memorial Field House and Ritter Amphitheater.

Huntington's several museums and galleries appeal to a wide variety of tastes. The Huntington Museum of Art has a broad collection of nineteenth- and twentieth-century paintings, drawings, sculpture, glass, silver, folk art, and firearms. Attached to the Museum of Art is the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory, West Virginia's only plant conservatory and home to sub-tropical native plants and seasonal displays. The Huntington Railroad Museum in Ritter Park is home to two locomotives and two cabooses; free tours are available by arrangement. The Birke Art Gallery at Marshall University displays student and professional art. The Museum of Radio and Technology features radios from the 1920s through the 1950s, military radio technology, and vintage computers. Benjy's Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Museum, located in a Harley dealership, shows off an amazing collection of antique and modern motorcycles.

Festivals and Holidays

In March, Huntington's Park District holds a St. Patrick's Day Celebration with live music, Irish food, and fun for kids. At Easter time, an Egg Hunt goes on in Ritter Park. The Huntington Dogwood Arts and Crafts Festival takes place in April at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. The city celebrates West Virginia Day, June 20th, with entertainment, food, and crafts. Also in June, Jazz-MU-Tazz, Marshall University'sMarshall University jazz festival, features plenty of free music outdoors, and Old Central City Days has the area's streets busy with flea markets and historic tours. The Fourth of July brings fireworks and music to Riverfront Park. The Cabell County Fair takes place in July and August. Food is first billing in August's Ribfest and September's Chilifest. September also brings the Hilltop Festival to the Huntington Museum of Art and the Pilot Club of Huntington Antique Show and Sale. In October comes the Grecian Festival at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, the Harvest Festival, and the West Virginia Pumpkin Festival. Guyandotte Civil War Days in November brings re-enactors together to commemorate the raid on the town in 1861 with period music, history tours, and craft displays. The Lions Tri-State Arts and Crafts Festival happens in December at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

Sports for the Spectator

Fans of Marshall University's Thundering Herd sports program enjoy watching football, baseball, and men's and women's basketball. Other sports at Marshall include volleyball, soccer, golf, tennis, and swimming. Regional college and local high school football and basketball are also enjoyed by residents.

Sports for the Participant

The Greater Huntington Park District offers 11 parks with many sports facilities. The Ritter Park Tennis Center has 11 hard courts with 4 indoor courts and a pro shop. Veterans Memorial Field House is home to indoor soccer, inline hockey, and basketball games. Softball fields, basketball courts, pools and other amenities serve the community. Huntington's YMCA provides many recreational activities, including an indoor pool. An 18-hole golf course is at the Esquire Country Club in nearby Barboursville. Hiking trails, camping, boating and fishing are available activities in the three nearby state parks: Virginia Point Park, East Lynn Lake and Dam, and Beach Fork Lake and State Park.

Shopping and Dining

Huntington's several shopping areas range from the historic to the modern. Old Central City features antique shops and is close to the Railroad Museum and Heritage Farm. Pullman Square, the new entertainment and retail complex opened in 2004, is attracting specialty shops and national chains. The Huntington Mall has more than 100 stores, including clothing, book, electronics and jewelry retailers.

Dining choices at local restaurants vary and are plentiful. For casual eating, Huntington is well-known for its hot dog/root beer stands and "Huntington-style" hot dogs, such as those offered at the Frostop Drive-In, Stewart's Original, Sam's, and Bowincal. The hot dog's sauce, of which Stewart's claims to have invented, makes the difference. Jim's Steak and and Spaghetti House is a Huntington institution, in business for over 60 years and still operated by the original owner. Buddy's Bar-B-Que's killer wings are famous on the Marshall University campus. For more refined dining, fine Italian, American, seafood, Indian, and Mexican food are available. Two restaurants in historic buildings are Savannah's, serving traditional southern food in a 1903 Victorian mansion, and Boston Beanery, at the old B & O Railroad station.

Visitor Information: Cabell-Huntington Convention and Visitor's Bureau, PO Box 327, Huntington, WV 25708; telephone (304)525-7333; toll-free (800)635-6329

Huntington: History

Native Tribes are First Inhabitants

The first known inhabitants of the Ohio River Valley were the Adena people, also known as the "mound builders" because of the artifact-laden mounds they built, some over 2000 years ago. Since the 1500s, different Native American tribes lived in the Ohio Valley and in the area now called Huntington, such as the Hurons, but the area was also used as hunting grounds by the larger Shawnee of Ohio and the Iroquois Confederacy from New York. There was much fighting in the region between the British and Native Americans in the 1760s and 1770s, resulting in battles and massacres of entire villages. As more settlers entered the region after the American Revolution, the Mingo and Shawnee tribes were forced to move further inland.

War and Railroads

In 1837 Marshall Academy, the forerunner of Marshall University, was created in the town of Barboursville. Named after U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, it started as a subscription school, and after being closed during the Civil War it reopened as the State Normal School of Marshall College to train teachers.

Inhabitants of Cabell County during the Civil War were divided about their allegiances. The Border Rangers were a local pro-South militia formed in 1860, but the county's representative to the Virginia secession convention of 1861 voted to remain in the Union. While Virginia seceded, Cabell County voted to stay in the Union, with the exception of the town of Guyandotte, now part of Huntington. The Battle at Barboursville in 1861 was the first battle in the county, won by the Confederacy. The town was eventually captured by Union forces, which then burned most of Guyandotte to the ground. It was due to the area's Union leanings that caused the State of West Virginia to be created in 1862.

Huntington, originally called Halderby's Landing, was named after Collis P. Huntington, a railroad baron who was a major partner in the Central Pacific Railroad, and who bought out the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. In 1869 he began construction of the western terminus to the C & O, connecting the Ohio River and trains from the Midwest to the Atlantic Seaboard. The city was incorporated in 1871 by the West Virginia State Legislature. In 1873, the first locomotive arrived from Richmond to the celebration of the entire community. The railroad was the city's largest employer for a century, until eventually becoming part of CSX in the 1970s.

A Glimpse of Modern Life

In 1884 the Ohio River overflowed its banks, flooding the city and causing major damage. Huntington became the seat of Cabell County in 1887, just after the first electric streetlights were installed. Electric streetcars became a fixture in the city soon afterwards. Just west of Huntington, Central City was incorporated in 1893. Central City started as just a few farms but grew as manufacturers, such as glass and chain factories, entered the area, and in 1909 Central City was annexed by Huntington. The same year, construction of Ritter Park was begun, which was completed in 1913, and the park continues to be a valued part of Huntington today.

Again in 1913 the river flooded Huntington, causing serious damage. However, it was not as bad as the flood to come. The "Great Flood of 1937" left 6,000 residents homeless and the region devastated. The disaster caused the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a 15-mile flood wall to protect the town, which it continues to do today.

Readily available raw materials, cheap coal power, and connections to major markets by the railroad caused Huntington to grow into the industrial hub of the area. Steel producers and fabricators blossomed along with manufacturers of rail-cars and railroad equipment. Huntington is still known for its glassworks and pigment production.

Huntington Today

In 1970, tragedy struck the city when a plane carrying 75 passengers, including the entire Marshall University football team, crashed in rain and fog on approach to Tri-State Airport. The crash was the worst aviation disaster in the country that year.

West Virginia's economy has had its ups and downs. At first, mechanization in mining increased the unemployment rate when fewer workers were needed. In the 1970s, when energy prices were high, the coal industry and state profited. When energy prices dropped in the 1980s it was a devastating blow to the entire state, affecting all the mining communities and all business sectors beyond. Huntington suffered from factory closures and a declining population.

Today's Huntington is still a center of manufacturing and shipping, especially of the region's coal. As Mayor David Felinton said in his 2004 State of the City Address, "West Virginia is experiencing a time of rebirth. We are on the edge of economic development with the potential for unprecedented growth and prosperity within the next five years. We can be confident that Huntington is on the right path for the future."

Historical Information: The City of Huntington, City Hall, 8th Street and 5th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701; telephone: (304)696-5580

Huntington: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Cabell County Schools experienced a period of change in the mid-2000s. In 2005 the Superintendent of Schools was replaced when his contract was bought out. The high school drop-out rate was 20 percent in 2003, up from an already-high 13 percent a decade earlier. However, new policies in the district are expected to create improvements. The county has a higher than national average percentage of children in pre-kindergarten programs. Elementary schools in the district have adopted a "balanced literacy" system with co-teachers in class that has over 80 percent of students reading at or above grade level. New curriculum standards were also recently put in place. Before-school enrichment classes are available at many schools, and in most schools, students meet or exceed standards on the SAT tests.

The following is a summary of data regarding Cabell County's public schools as of the 2004–2005 school year.

Total enrollment: 12,294

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 20

middle schools: 6

senior high schools: 2

other: 2

Student/teacher ratio: 14.5:1

Teacher salaries

average: $38,240

Funding per pupil: $7,795 (2002–2003)

Seven private and parochial schools serve Huntington and Cabell County.

Public Schools Information: Cabell County Schools, 2850 Fifth Avenue, Huntington, WV 25702; telephone (304)528-5000; fax (304)528-5080

Colleges and Universities

Huntington is home to three colleges and universities. Marshall University (MU) is the area's largest university, and is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of "America's Best Buys" in education. With enrollment at 17,000 students, it offers degree programs in business, education, journalism, medicine and health sciences, information and engineering, and the performing and fine arts.

Affiliated with MU is the Marshall Community and Technical College, a two-year institute offering associates degrees in allied health, business, information and manufacturing technologies, and its unique Railroad Conductor Training Program. Huntington Junior College is located in the downtown area and offers seven associates degree programs in the business and health professions.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Cabell County Public Library system operates a main library in Huntington and seven branches in neighboring towns. Over 100 years old, it was the first library system in the state to have a computerized catalog and circulation system. The main branch is home to a local history and genealogy room, and three social services agencies: The Tri-State Literacy Council, the Adult Learning Center, and the Information and Referral Services.

Marshall University has several prominent research centers. The Center for Business and Economic Research investigates promoting regional economic growth. The Center for Environmental, Geotechnical and Applied Sciences researches environmental management and technology using geo-science. The Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health Resources runs rural health programs across the state, and the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence focuses on cancer research.

Public Library Information: Cabell County Public Library; 455 9th Street Plaza, Huntington, WV 25701; telephone (304)528-5700

Huntington: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents

1980: 311,350

1990: 312,529

2000: 315,538

Percent change, 1990–2000: 0.2%

U.S. rank in 1980: 97th

U.S. rank in 1990: 114th

U.S. rank in 2000: 126th

City Residents

1980: 63,684

1990: 54,844

2000: 51,475

2003 estimate: 49,533

Percent change, 1990–2000: -6.2%

U.S. rank in 1980: 314th

U.S. rank in 1990: 450th (State rank: 2nd)

U.S. rank in 2000: 574th (State rank: 2nd)

Density: 3,234.1 people per square mile (2000)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 46,127

Black: 3,858 American Indian and Alaskan Native: 101

Asian: 422

Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 25

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 437

Other: 155

Percent of residents born in state: 74.1% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 2,499

Population 5 to 9 years old: 2,539

Population 10 to 14 years old: 2,471

Population 15 to 19 years old: 4,237

Population 20 to 24 years old: 6,402

Population 25 to 34 years old: 6,539

Population 35 to 44 years old: 6,303

Population 45 to 54 years old: 6,565

Population 55 to 59 years old: 2,422

Population 60 to 64 years old: 2,226

Population 65 to 74 years old: 4,502

Population 75 to 84 years old: 3,611

Population 85 years and older: 1,159

Median age: 36.7 years

Births (2002)

Total number: 675

Deaths (2002)

Total number: 768 (of which, 4 were infants under the age of 1 year)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $16,717

Median household income: $23,234

Total households: 23,067

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 5,276

$10,000 to $14,999: 2,783

$15,000 to $24,999: 3,995

$25,000 to $34,999: 2,995

$35,000 to $49,999: 3,051

$50,000 to $74,999: 2,848

$75,000 to $99,999: 1,065

$100,000 to $149,999: 576

$150,000 to $199,999: 182

$200,000 or more: 296

Percent of families below poverty level: 17.5% (59.5% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 4,008