Big Sandy, West Virginia

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Population in 2010: 168.
Males: 79  (47.0%)
Females: 89  (53.0%)
Median resident age:

41.1 years
West Virginia median age:

42.6 years

Zip codes: 24816, 24844, 24881.

Big Sandy Zip Code Map
Estimated median household income in 2022: $27,781
Big Sandy:

$27,781
WV:

$54,329

Estimated per capita income in 2022: $15,577

Estimated median house or condo value in 2022: $50,530
Big Sandy:

$50,530
WV:

$155,100

Mean prices in 2022: all housing units: $69,488; detached houses: $69,003
March 2022 cost of living index in Big Sandy: 83.4 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2022: 0.0%
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Based on 2000-2022 data
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According to our research of West Virginia and other state lists, there were 2 registered sex offenders living in Big Sandy, West Virginia as of May 17, 2024.
The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Big Sandy is 109 to 1.


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Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 1160 feet

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Charleston, WV (61.3 miles , pop. 53,421).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Greensboro, NC (141.4 miles , pop. 223,891).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Philadelphia, PA (394.5 miles , pop. 1,517,550).

Nearest cities:

Roderfield, WV (1.0 miles),
Davy, WV (1.7 miles ),
Iaeger, WV (2.5 miles ),
Welch, WV (2.6 miles ),
Bartley, WV (3.0 miles ),
Bradshaw, WV (3.1 miles ),
Raysal, WV (3.1 miles ),
Brenton, WV (3.1 miles )

Latitude: 37.46 N, Longitude: 81.70 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 304

Unemployment in December 2023:
Here:

6.2%
West Virginia:

4.0%

Earthquake activity:

Big Sandy-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above West Virginia state average. It is 1% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 208.2 miles away from the city center
On 8/9/2020 at 12:07:37, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 4.7 mi) earthquake occurred 76.1 miles away from the city center
On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK) earthquake occurred 132.9 miles away from the city center
On 11/2/2006 at 17:53:02, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, Depth: 0.6 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 22.0 miles away from Big Sandy center
On 11/23/2006 at 10:42:57, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB) earthquake occurred 26.1 miles away from Big Sandy center
On 9/7/1988 at 02:28:09, a magnitude 4.6 (4.5 MB, 4.6 LG) earthquake occurred 128.0 miles away from the city center
Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters:

The number of natural disasters in McDowell County (23) is greater than the US average (15).
Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 18
Emergencies Declared: 4

Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 13, Storms: 12, Landslides: 8, Mudslides: 4, Winter Storms: 4, Hurricanes: 2, Blizzard: 1, Fire: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Snowfall: 1, Snowstorm: 1, Wind: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Big Sandy:

  • New River Community and Technical College (about 35 miles; Beckley, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,234)
  • Concord University (about 39 miles; Athens, WV; FT enrollment: 2,698)
  • Wytheville Community College (about 50 miles; Wytheville, VA; FT enrollment: 2,193)
  • New River Community College (about 61 miles; Dublin, VA; FT enrollment: 3,007)
  • Big Sandy Community and Technical College (about 62 miles; Prestonsburg, KY; FT enrollment: 2,660)
  • West Virginia State University (about 64 miles; Institute, WV; FT enrollment: 2,133)
  • King University (about 66 miles; Bristol, TN; FT enrollment: 2,472)

Public elementary/middle school in Big Sandy:

See full list of schools located in Big Sandy

Points of interest:

Click to draw/clear place borders

Notable location: Roderfield Volunteer Fire Department (A). Display/hide its location on the map

Creek: Lower Hensley Creek (A). Display/hide its location on the map

McDowell County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Low Potential

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

HAMPTON ROADS WATER SYSTEM (Population served: 250, Groundwater):
Past health violations:
  • Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) - In APR-2010, Contaminant: GROUNDWATER RULE. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JUN-08-2010), St Public Notif requested (JUN-18-2010), St Formal NOV issued (JUN-18-2010), St Public Notif received (JUL-09-2010)
  • Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) - In MAR-2010, Contaminant: GROUNDWATER RULE. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (MAY-21-2010), St Formal NOV issued (MAY-21-2010), St Public Notif received (JUN-04-2010), St Compliance achieved (JUN-08-2010)
  • Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) - In FEB-2010, Contaminant: GROUNDWATER RULE. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif received (MAY-05-2010), St Public Notif requested (MAY-12-2010), St Formal NOV issued (MAY-12-2010), St Compliance achieved (JUN-08-2010)
  • Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) - In JAN-2010, Contaminant: GROUNDWATER RULE. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (APR-23-2010), St Public Notif requested (APR-23-2010), St Public Notif received (MAY-05-2010), St Compliance achieved (JUN-08-2010)
  • Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) - In DEC-2009, Contaminant: GROUNDWATER RULE. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (APR-15-2010), St Public Notif requested (APR-15-2010), St Public Notif received (MAY-05-2010), St Compliance achieved (JUN-08-2010)
Past monitoring violations:
  • Initial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu - In JAN-01-1994, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JAN-11-1994), St Formal NOV issued (JAN-11-1994), Fed PAO issued (NOV-04-1994), Fed FAO issued (JUN-16-1995), Fed Compliance achieved (JUN-16-1995), St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JAN-24-1996), St Public Notif received (APR-04-1996), St Compliance achieved (JUL-30-2007)
  • 38 regular monitoring violations
Average household size:
This place:

2.3 people
West Virginia:

2.4 people

Percentage of family households:
This place:

65.8%
Whole state:

65.8%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners:
This place:

1.4%
Whole state:

6.6%


No gay or lesbian households reported

For population 15 years and over in Big Sandy:

  • Never married: 0.0%
  • Now married: 0.0%
  • Separated: 0.0%
  • Widowed: 100.0%
  • Divorced: 0.0%

For population 25 years and over in Big Sandy:

  • High school or higher: 100.0%
  • Bachelor's degree or higher: 0.0%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 0.0%
Educational Attainment in 2022
Education Gini index (Inequality in education)
Here:

0.0
West Virginia average:

11.1

Presidential Elections Results

Graphs represent county-level data. Detailed 2008 Election Results

Religion statistics for Big Sandy, WV (based on McDowell County data)

Religions Adherents in 2010
Religions Adherents - Change between 2000 and 2010
ReligionAdherentsCongregations
Evangelical Protestant2,60453
Mainline Protestant91427
Black Protestant53111
Other4712
Catholic3134
None17,280-
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics:

Number of grocery stores: 8
Here:

3.48 / 10,000 pop.
West Virginia:

2.41 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 1
Here:

0.44 / 10,000 pop.
West Virginia:

0.28 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 3
This county:

1.31 / 10,000 pop.
West Virginia:

1.09 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 20
McDowell County:

8.70 / 10,000 pop.
West Virginia:

5.38 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 6
McDowell County:

2.61 / 10,000 pop.
West Virginia:

6.22 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
This county:

14.6%
West Virginia:

12.2%
Adult obesity rate:
This county:

32.5%
West Virginia:

31.1%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:

15.8%
West Virginia:

13.1%

Strongest AM radio stations in Big Sandy:

  • WELC (1150 AM; daytime; 5 kW; WELCH, WV; Owner: POCAHONTAS BROADCASTING CO.)
  • WBDY (1190 AM; daytime; 10 kW; BLUEFIELD, VA; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WIWS (1070 AM; daytime; 10 kW; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: SOUTHERN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)
  • WYRV (770 AM; daytime; 5 kW; CEDAR BLUFF, VA; Owner: FAITH CHRISTIAN MUSIC BROADCASTING MINISTRIES, INC.)
  • WNRG (940 AM; 5 kW; GRUNDY, VA; Owner: VIRGINIA-KENTUCKY BROADCASTING CO., INC)
  • WWNR (620 AM; 5 kW; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: DYNASTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
  • WJLS (560 AM; 5 kW; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC)
  • WWYO (970 AM; 1 kW; PINEVILLE, WV; Owner: MRJ, INC.)
  • WTZE (1470 AM; daytime; 5 kW; TAZEWELL, VA; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WOAY (860 AM; 10 kW; OAK HILL, WV; Owner: COMMISSIONED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
  • WHIS (1440 AM; 5 kW; BLUEFIELD, WV; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WVOW (1290 AM; 5 kW; LOGAN, WV; Owner: LOGAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
  • WTRU (830 AM; 50 kW; KERNERSVILLE, NC; Owner: TRUTH BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

Strongest FM radio stations in Big Sandy:

  • WELC-FM (102.9 FM; WELCH, WV; Owner: POCAHONTAS BROADCASTING CO.)
  • WHAJ (104.5 FM; BLUEFIELD, WV; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WHKX (106.3 FM; BLUEFIELD, VA; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WKOY-FM (100.9 FM; PRINCETON, WV; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WGTH-FM (105.5 FM; RICHLANDS, VA; Owner: HIGH KNOB BROADCASTERS, INC.)
  • WPIB (91.1 FM; BLUEFIELD, WV; Owner: POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE RADIO, INC.)
  • WSTG (95.9 FM; PRINCETON, WV; Owner: PRINCETON BROADCASTING, INC.)
  • WHQX (107.7 FM; CEDAR BLUFF, VA; Owner: MONTEREY LICENSES, LLC)
  • WCIR-FM (103.7 FM; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: SOUTHERN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)
  • WMEV-FM (93.9 FM; MARION, VA; Owner: HOLSTON VALLEY BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
  • WPKE-FM (103.1 FM; COAL RUN, KY; Owner: EAST KENTUCKY BROADCASTING CORP.)
  • WVKM (106.7 FM; MATEWAN, WV; Owner: THREE STATES BROADCASTING CO., INC.)
  • WJLS-FM (99.5 FM; BECKLEY, WV; Owner: FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC)
  • WRIC-FM (100.7 FM; RICHLANDS, VA; Owner: PEGGY SUE BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
  • WPMW (92.7 FM; MULLENS, WV; Owner: CASTLE ROCK INVESTMENTS, L.L.C.)
  • WOLD-FM (102.5 FM; MARION, VA; Owner: EMERALD SOUND, INC.)
  • WVOW-FM (101.9 FM; LOGAN, WV; Owner: LOGAN BROADCASTING CORP.)
  • WMTD-FM (102.3 FM; HINTON, WV; Owner: SOUTHERN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)
  • WVTR (91.9 FM; MARION, VA; Owner: VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC)
  • WMJD (97.7 FM; GRUNDY, VA; Owner: VIRGINIA-KENTUCKY BROADCASTING CO., INC.)

Big Sandy fatal accident list:

Aug 27, 1983 01:20 PM, 7, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 1, Fatalities: 1, Drunk persons involved: 1
Jul 8, 1978 09:00 AM, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 2, Fatalities: 1
  • National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics
  • 5Number of bridges
  • 39ft / 11.7mTotal length
  • $2,975,000Total costs
  • 9,420Total average daily traffic
  • 925Total average daily truck traffic

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses:

5
  • Call Sign: KC8LFA, Licensee ID: L01425268, Grant Date: 08/21/2008, Expiration Date: 11/16/2018, Cancellation Date: 11/17/2020, Certifier: Howard J Lambert, Registrant: Howard J Lambert, Big Sandy, WV 24816

  • Call Sign: KE8OTY, Licensee ID: L02357073, Grant Date: 07/01/2020, Expiration Date: 07/01/2030, Certifier: Rebeca Ratliff, Registrant: Rebeca Ratliff, Big Sandy, WV 24816

  • Call Sign: KE8OTZ, Licensee ID: L02357074, Grant Date: 07/01/2020, Expiration Date: 07/01/2030, Certifier: Samantha F Williams, Registrant: Samantha F Williams, Big Sandy, WV 24816

  • Call Sign: KE8OUA, Licensee ID: L02357075, Grant Date: 07/01/2020, Expiration Date: 07/01/2030, Certifier: Mills A James, Registrant: James A Mills, Big Sandy, WV 24816

  • Call Sign: KE8OUB, Licensee ID: L02357076, Grant Date: 07/01/2020, Expiration Date: 07/01/2030, Certifier: Nicholas A Williams, Registrant: Nicholas A Williams, Big Sandy, WV 24816


Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos in Big Sandy, WV
  • 100.0%Electricity


Big Sandy compared to West Virginia state average:

  • Median household income below state average.
  • Median house value significantly below state average.
  • Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.
  • Black race population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Length of stay since moving in significantly above state average.
  • Number of rooms per house below state average.
  • Number of college students significantly below state average.
  • Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher significantly below state average.
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