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Lester, West Virginia



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Lester, WV map

Raleigh County

Population in July 2007: 314. Population change since 2000: -2.8%
 

Males: 145  (46.3%)
Females: 169  (53.7%)
Median resident age:  41.8 years
West Virginia median age:  38.9 years

Zip codes: 25865.


Estimated median household income in 2007: $34,164 (it was $24,375 in 2000)
Lester:  $34,164
West Virginia:  $37,060

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $50,363 (it was $33,100 in 2000)
Lester:  $50,363
West Virginia:  $96,000

Lester, WV residents, houses, and apartments details

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Races in Lester:

  • White Non-Hispanic (79.8%)
  • Black (19.9%)

2008 cost of living index in Lester: 76.7 (low, U.S. average is 100)


Latest news from Lester, WV collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: United States (25.8%), Irish (6.8%), Subsaharan African (2.8%), English (2.2%), French (1.6%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 2040 feet

Land area: 0.50 square miles.

Population density: 634 people per square mile 
 
 (low).




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Lester, West Virginia map

For population 25 years and over in Lester

  • High school or higher: 57.1%
  • Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.1%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 1.2%
  • Unemployed: 13.6%
  • Mean travel time to work: 28.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Lester town

  • Never married: 13.3%
  • Now married: 53.4%
  • Separated: 1.4%
  • Widowed: 15.8%
  • Divorced: 16.1%

0 residents are foreign born

This town:  0.0%
West Virginia:  1.1%

According to our research there were no registered sex offenders living in this town in early 2007.

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000:

Lester:  0.9% ($304)
West Virginia:  0.6% ($378)
Lester satellite photo by USGS

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Charleston, WV (48.3 miles , pop. 53,421).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Greensboro, NC (153.2 miles , pop. 223,891).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Philadelphia, PA (451.0 miles , pop. 1,517,550).

Nearest cities: Sophia, WV (3.7 miles ), Crab Orchard, WV (4.9 miles ), MacArthur, WV (6.4 miles ), Mabscott, WV (6.7 miles ), Coal City, WV (7.1 miles ), Beckley, WV (8.7 miles ), Rhodell, WV (8.8 miles ), Prosperity, WV (9.6 miles ).


Single-family new house construction building permits:
  • 1996: 0 buildings
  • 1997: 0 buildings
  • 1998: 0 buildings
  • 1999: 0 buildings
  • 2000: 0 buildings
  • 2001: 0 buildings
  • 2002: 0 buildings
  • 2003: 0 buildings
  • 2004: 0 buildings
  • 2005: 0 buildings
  • 2006: 0 buildings
  • 2007: 0 buildings

Number of permits per 10,000 residents


Average cost (in 1000s)


Latitude: 37.73 N, Longitude: 81.30 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 304

Lester household income distribution Lester home values distribution


Population change in the 1990s: -84 (-20.7%).



Most common industries for males:



  • Mining (22%)
  • Construction (16%)
  • Health care (12%)
  • Accommodation and food services (12%)
  • Finance and insurance (8%)
  • Wood products (6%)
  • Utilities (6%)


Most common industries for females:



  • Health care (26%)
  • Department and other general merchandise stores (11%)
  • Educational services (11%)
  • Food and beverage stores (9%)
  • Sporting goods, camera, and hobby and toy stores (7%)
  • Administrative and support and waste management services (7%)
  • Printing and related support activities (4%)


Most common occupations for males



  • Extraction workers (20%)
  • Cooks and food preparation workers (12%)
  • Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (12%)
  • Construction trades workers except carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and construction laborers (8%)
  • Health technologists and technicians (6%)
  • Sales representatives, services, wholesale and manufacturing (6%)
  • Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (6%)


Most common occupations for females



  • Cashiers (15%)
  • Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (11%)
  • Other sales and related workers including supervisors (11%)
  • Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (11%)
  • Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (9%)
  • Laborers and material movers, hand (9%)
  • Business operations specialists (4%)


Lester races chart

Average climate in Lester, West Virginia

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Lester, West Virginia average temperatures Lester, West Virginia average precipitation
 
Lester, West Virginia humidity
 
Lester, West Virginia wind speed
 
Lester, West Virginia snowfall
 
Lester, West Virginia sunshine
 
Lester, West Virginia clear and cloudy days
 

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Lester-area historical tornado activity is below West Virginia state average. It is 79% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 4/4/1974, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 5.0 miles away from the Lester town center injured 12 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

On 4/4/1974, a category 3 tornado 19.8 miles away from the town center killed one person and injured 11 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.


Lester topographic map
Hospitals/medical centers near Lester:
  • BECKLEY APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL (about 7 miles; BECKLEY, WV)
  • RALEIGH GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 7 miles; BECKLEY, WV)
  • PLATEAU MEDICAL CENTER (about 21 miles; OAK HILL, WV)

Political contributions by individuals in Lester, WV

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Lester:
  • RALEIGH COUNTY MEMORIAL (about 14 miles; BECKLEY, WV; ID: BKW)
  • YEAGER (about 48 miles; CHARLESTON, WV; ID: CRW)
  • GREENBRIER VALLEY (about 64 miles; LEWISBURG, WV; ID: LWB)
Other public-use airports nearest to Lester:
  • KEE FIELD (about 20 miles; PINEVILLE, WV; ID: I16)
  • WELCH MUNI (about 27 miles; WELCH, WV; ID: I25)
  • MERCER COUNTY (about 32 miles; BLUEFIELD, WV; ID: BLF)

Amtrak station near Lester:
  • 20 miles: PRINCE (RTE. 41 NORTH). Services: ticket office, partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Lester:
  • CONCORD COLLEGE (about 29 miles; ATHENS, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,723)
  • BLUEFIELD STATE COLLEGE (about 33 miles; BLUEFIELD, WV; FT enrollment: 2,096)
  • WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE (about 42 miles; INSTITUTE, WV; FT enrollment: 3,688)
  • SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 56 miles; RICHLANDS, VA; FT enrollment: 2,412)
  • NEW RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 62 miles; DUBLIN, VA; FT enrollment: 2,262)
  • RADFORD UNIVERSITY (about 67 miles; RADFORD, VA; FT enrollment: 8,034)
  • VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIV (about 76 miles; BLACKSBURG, VA; FT enrollment: 25,754)
Public elementary/middle school in Lester:
  • Lester Elementary (Students: 163; Location: 1970 LESTER HIGHWAY, RT. 54; Grades: PK - 5)

Lester map

Click to draw/clear town borders

Streams, rivers, and creeks: Skinner Fork (A). Display/hide its location on the map

 

Drinking water stations with addresses in Lester and their reported violations in the past:

LESTER MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS (Population served: 750, Purch_surface_water):
Past health violations:
  • MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In JUL-1999, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (AUG-10-1999), St Public Notif requested (AUG-10-1999), St Compliance achieved (AUG-14-1999)
  • MCL, Acute (TCR) - In DEC-1996, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JAN-01-1997), St Formal NOV issued (MAR-28-1997), St Public Notif requested (MAR-28-1997), St Public Notif received (APR-04-1997)
Past monitoring violations:
  • PN Violation for NPDWR Violation - Between APR-22-2006 and DEC-31-2025, Contaminant: Public Notice
  • PN Violation for NPDWR Violation - Between MAR-24-2006 and DEC-31-2025, Contaminant: Public Notice
  • PN Violation for NPDWR Violation - Between MAR-04-2006 and DEC-31-2025, Contaminant: Public Notice
  • CCR Complete Failure to Report - Between JUL-2004 and DEC-2025, Consumer Confidence Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (AUG-04-2004)
  • CCR Complete Failure to Report - Between JUL-2003 and DEC-2025, Consumer Confidence Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (OCT-08-2003)
  • 3 routine major monitoring violations
  • 2 other older monitoring violations

Average household size:
This town:  2.3 people
West Virginia:  2.4 people

Percentage of family households:
This town:  62.7%
Whole state:  68.4%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners:
This town:  4.2%
Whole state:  4.7%

No gay or lesbian households reported

Residents with income below the poverty level in 2007:
This town:  15.7%
Whole state:  17.9%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2007:
This town:  5.2%
Whole state:  7.6%

Detailed information about poverty and poor residents in Lester, WV



Lester compared to West Virginia state average:
  • Median house value below state average.
  • Unemployed percentage above state average.
  • Black race population percentage significantly above state average.
  • Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Renting percentage significantly below state average.
  • Length of stay since moving in above state average.
  • Number of college students below state average.
  • Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher significantly below state average.


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Educational Attainment




School Enrollment by Level of School



Lester travel time to work


Lester mode of transportation to work chart



2004 Presidential Election results in Raleigh County West Virginia:




Most commonly used house heating fuel:
  • Utility gas (54%)
  • Electricity (36%)
  • Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (3%)
  • Coal or coke (2%)
  • Other fuel (2%)
  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (1%)
  • No fuel used (1%)

Local government employment and payroll (March 2002)

Function Full-time employees Monthly full-time payroll Average yearly full-time wage Part-time employees Monthly part-time payroll
Water Supply 1$1,417$17,0041$1,063
Other Government Administration 0$0 2$1,506
Financial Administration 0$0 1$221
Totals for Government 1$1,417$17,0044$2,790



Lester government finances in 2002:
  • Current Operations - Water Utilities: $90,000
    Police Protection: $40,000
    Financial Administration: $25,000
    Regular Highways: $8,000
  • Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $70,000
  • Revenue - Water Utilities: $93,000
  • Sinking Fund - Cash & Deposits: $0
  • State Intergovernmental - Water Utilities: $12,000
    All Other: $3,000
    General Support: $2,000
  • Tax - Property: $24,000
    Public Utilities: $17,000
    NEC: $5,000
  • Total Salaries & Wages: $33,000

5.18% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($32,601 average adjusted gross income)

Here:  5.18%
West Virginia average:  5.78%

0.05% of residents moved from foreign countries ($208 average AGI)
Raleigh County:  0.05%
West Virginia average:  0.06%

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
from Fayette County, WV  0.65% ($27,729 average AGI)
from Wyoming County, WV  0.44% ($28,162)
from Kanawha County, WV  0.23% ($29,948)


5.16% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($36,648 average adjusted gross income)

Here:  5.16%
West Virginia average:  5.65%

0.04% of residents moved to foreign countries ($404 average AGI)
Raleigh County:  0.04%
West Virginia average:  0.02%

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
to Fayette County, WV  0.66% ($24,196 average AGI)
to Kanawha County, WV  0.26% ($35,119)
to Summers County, WV  0.19% ($33,521)


Strongest AM radio stations in Lester:
  • WIWS (1070 AM; daytime; 10 kW; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: SOUTHERN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)
  • WWNR (620 AM; 5 kW; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: DYNASTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
  • WJLS (560 AM; 5 kW; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC)
  • WOAY (860 AM; 10 kW; OAK HILL, WV; Owner: COMMISSIONED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
  • WBDY (1190 AM; daytime; 10 kW; BLUEFIELD, VA; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WCAW (680 AM; 10 kW; CHARLESTON, WV; Owner: WEST VIRGINIA RADIO CORPORATION OF CHARLESTON)
  • WELC (1150 AM; daytime; 5 kW; WELCH, WV; Owner: POCAHONTAS BROADCASTING CO.)
  • WHIS (1440 AM; 5 kW; BLUEFIELD, WV; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WTRU (830 AM; 50 kW; KERNERSVILLE, NC; Owner: TRUTH BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
  • WKNV (890 AM; daytime; 10 kW; FAIRLAWN, VA; Owner: POSITIVE RADIO GROUP, INC.)
  • WCHS (580 AM; 5 kW; CHARLESTON, WV; Owner: WEST VIRGINIA RADIO CORPORATION OF CHARLESTON)
  • WTVN (610 AM; 50 kW; COLUMBUS, OH; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)
  • WWYO (970 AM; 1 kW; PINEVILLE, WV; Owner: MRJ, INC.)

Strongest FM radio stations in Lester:
  • WCIR-FM (103.7 FM; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: SOUTHERN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)
  • WJLS-FM (99.5 FM; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC)
  • WMTD-FM (102.3 FM; HINTON, WV; Owner: SOUTHERN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)
  • WTNJ (105.9 FM; MOUNT HOPE, WV; Owner: WEST VIRGINIA BROADCASTING, INC.)
  • WPMW (92.7 FM; MULLENS, WV; Owner: CASTLE ROCK INVESTMENTS, L.L.C.)
  • WHAJ (104.5 FM; BLUEFIELD, WV; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WAXS (94.1 FM; OAK HILL, WV; Owner: PLATEAU BROADCASTING, INC.)
  • WVPB (91.7 FM; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: WEST VIRGINIA EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTING AUTHORITY)
  • WHKX (106.3 FM; BLUEFIELD, VA; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WKOY-FM (100.9 FM; PRINCETON, WV; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WPIB (91.1 FM; BLUEFIELD, WV; Owner: POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE RADIO, INC.)
  • WSTG (95.9 FM; PRINCETON, WV; Owner: PRINCETON BROADCASTING, INC.)
  • WKVW (93.3 FM; MONTGOMERY, WV; Owner: EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION)

TV broadcast stations around Lester:
  • WOAY-TV (Channel 4; OAK HILL, WV; Owner: THOMAS BROADCASTING CO.)
  • WSWP-TV (Channel 9; GRANDVIEW, WV; Owner: WEST VIRGINIA EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTING AUTHORITY)

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