View source for Philippi, West Virginia

{{short description|City in West Virginia, US}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Philippi, West Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = File:PhilippiWV1.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = The [[Philippi Historic District]] with the [[Barbour County Courthouse]] seen from across the [[Tygart Valley River]] in 2007
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Seal of Philippi, West Virginia.png
| image_blank_emblem      = Logo of Philippi, West Virginia.png
| blank_emblem_type       = Logo

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Barbour County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Philippi Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Philippi in Barbour County, West Virginia.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|West Virginia|size=23px}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in West Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Barbour County, West Virginia|Barbour]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[United States magistrate judge#State courts|District]]
|subdivision_name3        = Philippi

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_54.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 7.57
|area_land_km2            = 7.33
|area_water_km2           = 0.24
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.92
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.83
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.09

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_est           = 2922
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web   |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 2928
|population_density_km2   = 444.35
|population_density_sq_mi = 1150.88

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 397
|elevation_ft             = 1302
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|9|6|N|80|2|36|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 26416
|area_codes                = [[Area codes 304 and 681|304/681]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 54-63292<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1544780<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.philippi.org/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
}}

'''Philippi''' ('FILL-uh-pea') is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Barbour County, West Virginia]], United States, along the [[Tygart Valley River]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 2,929 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> In 1861, the city was the site of the [[Battle of Philippi (1861)|Battle of Philippi]], known as the "Philippi Races". Although a minor skirmish, this is considered the earliest notable land action of the [[American Civil War]]. The city has a weekly [[newspaper]], ''[[The Barbour Democrat]]''.

==History==
===Settlement===
The first white settlement in present-day [[Barbour County, West Virginia|Barbour County]] was established approximately three  miles downriver from the future site of Philippi in 1780, at which time the area was still part of western [[Virginia]] and included within [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]]. The earliest settlers on the section of bottomland that would one day become Philippi were William Anglin  (as early as 1783 or '84) and Daniel Booth (1787). A [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] existed here as early as 1789 which served the road that had recently been surveyed between [[Beverly, West Virginia|Beverly]] and Sandy Creek. Anglin was the original owner of the land upon which Philippi stands, hence the earliest known name for the locality — Anglin's Ford. Booth also owned and operated a commercial [[ferry]] here in the 1790s, thus the area's second popular designation — Booth's Ferry.<ref>{{cite book | author = Maxwell, Hu| title = The History of Barbour County, From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time, The Acme Publishing Company, Morgantown, W.Va. (Reprinted, McClain Printing Company, Parsons, W.Va., 1968)|year = 1899| pages = 276}}</ref> William Friend Wilson married Booth's daughter and built a wool and grain mill on the river in 1818.

In 1825, the first post office in the region (that would later become Barbour County) was established by Henson Lewis Hoff (1805-1890), an expeditious young man who had just arrived from [[Loudoun County, Virginia|Loudoun County]]. Hoff settled at Cherry Hill, just west of the current city limits of Philippi. After Hoff became the postmaster, the community that would become Philippi was known as "Hoffsville" and remained so until 1841 when the name "Philippa" was first considered.<ref>Martin, Joseph (1835), ''New and Comprehensive Gazetteer of Virginia''; Reprinted in 1968 in ''West Virginia Heritage'', Vol 2, pg 21; West Virginia Heritage Foundation; Richwood, W.Va. (Unfortunately, the ''Gazetteer'' does not provide any details for "Hoffsville" as it does for other villages in the area, except that Richmond was 253 miles away and Washington, DC 236 miles away.)</ref><ref>"Place Names in West Virginia": [https://archive.wvculture.org/history/archives/placenames/placnamh.html H], [https://archive.wvculture.org/history/archives/placenames/placnamp.html P]; [[West Virginia Archives and History]] website</ref>

===Founding and naming===
In March 1843, the vast Harrison and Randolph Counties of western Virginia were carved up into several smaller political units, among them Barbour County, which included Hoffsville. In 1899, [[Hu Maxwell]] described the April 1843 founding and official naming of the new county seat:
<blockquote>
"The county seat of Barbour was located at the place where Philippi now stands before there was a town and before the place was named. It was then a farm belonging to William F. Wilson, and the locality had long been known as Booth's Ferry. The land was first the property of William Anglin, and in succession was owned by John Wilson, Daniel Booth, Ely Butcher, Elmore Hart, Thomas H. Hite and William F. Wilson, who divided it into lots and disposed of the most of it within a few years of the establishing of the county seat. The county was named after [the Virginia lawyer and jurist] [[Philip P. Barbour]], and it was the intention of the county court when it selected a name for the town to honor the given name of Mr. Barbour; giving it the feminine form, however, in conformity with the [[Latin language]]. The feminine of [[Philip (name)|Philip]] is [[Philippa]], and it was meant that such should be the name of the town. But because of misspellings and a misunderstanding of the origin of the name (confounding it with [[Philippi]], an ancient city) the name finally took the form which it now has. On April 5, 1843, the third day of the first county court, it is 'ordered that the county seat of this county be known and called PHILLIPPA'. Except that the name has too many 'l's' the form was proper, according to what was originally intended. Later the name became Philippi, but even then it was oftener misspelled than spelled correctly."<ref>Maxwell, ''Op. cit.'', pg 279.</ref>
</blockquote>
As Maxwell implies, [[Paul of Tarsus|St Paul's]] ''[[Epistle to the Philippians]]'' and the ancient [[Battle of Philippi]] were no doubt influential in the final form of the name.<ref>There was an earlier town in [West] Virginia known as "Philippi". The settlement at the confluence of the [[Kanawha River|Kanawha]] and [[Coal River (West Virginia)|Coal Rivers]] was laid out in 1816 and so named after Philip Thompson, an early settler to the area. The name was afterwards changed to Colesmouth (due to the area and river having been discovered by Samuel Cole). It was later incorporated as Kanawha City (1868) and finally given its current name, [[St. Albans, West Virginia|St. Albans]], in 1872.</ref> Philippi was established by charter in 1844.

In 1852 [[Lemuel Chenoweth]], an Appalachian [[architect]] and [[carpenter]], built a [[covered bridge]] in Philippi to provide a link on the [[Toll roads in the United States#History, funding through toll|turnpike]] running between [[Beverly, West Virginia|Beverly]] and [[Fairmont, West Virginia|Fairmont]]. The [[Philippi Covered Bridge]] spelled the end of the commercial ferry operation and is still the town's prominent landmark.

[[File:TownofPhillippi1861.jpg|thumb|{{center|''Town of Phillippi'' (1861)}}]]

===Civil War===
{{main|Battle of Philippi (West Virginia)}}
Philippi was the scene of the first land battle of the [[American Civil War]], on June 3, 1861. The battle was promptly lampooned as the "Philippi Races" because of the hurried retreat by the Confederate troops encamped in the town. (The battle is [[American Civil War reenactment|reenacted]] every June during the town's 'Blue and Gray Reunion.')

At daylight on June 3, two columns of Union forces under the command of Col. [[Benjamin Franklin Kelley]] and Col. [[Ebenezer Dumont]], with perhaps 3,000 men, arrived from [[Grafton, West Virginia|Grafton]] and attacked about 800 poorly armed [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] recruits under the command of Col. [[George A. Porterfield]]. The Union troops had marched all night through a heavy rain storm to arrive just before daylight. The surprise attack — from the heights of "Battle Hill" to the northwest — awakened the sleeping Confederates. After firing a few shots at the advancing Union troops, the Southerners broke lines and began running frantically to the south, some still in their bed clothes.

The Union victory in a relatively bloodless battle propelled the young [[Major General (United States)|Major General]] [[George B. McClellan]] into the national spotlight, and he was soon given command of all Union armies. The battle also inspired more vocal protests in the Western part of Virginia against secession. A few days later in [[Wheeling, West Virginia|Wheeling]], the [[Wheeling Convention]] nullified the Virginia ordinance of secession and named [[Francis H. Pierpont]] governor. These events eventually resulted in the separate statehood of West Virginia.

[[File:Bird's Eye Philippi.jpg|thumb|{{center|''Bird's Eye View of Philippi, West Virginia, 1897''}}]]

===Later history===
Philippi was [[incorporation (municipal government)|incorporated]] by act of the [[West Virginia Legislature]] on 1 February 1871. The first railroad{{dash}}the Grafton and Greenbrier, a [[Narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge]]{{dash}}arrived at Philippi on 25 January 1884. Three years later the line was extended to Belington and in 1891 it became a [[standard gauge]] when it was acquired by the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad|B&O]]. In 1904, citizens passed a bond issue permitting the city to begin generating electricity for the first time by gas.<ref>Mattaliano, Jane K. and Lois G. Omonde (1994), ''Milestones: A Pictorial History of Philippi, West Virginia, 1844-1994'', [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]]: [[The Donning Company Publishers]], pp 97-99.</ref>

In 1901, Broaddus College (founded in 1871 in [[Winchester, Virginia]] and later located in [[Clarksburg, West Virginia]]) relocated to "Battle Hill", overlooking Philippi. In 1932, Broaddus merged with Alderson Academy (itself founded in 1901 in [[Alderson, West Virginia]]), whereupon these two Baptist institutions became Alderson–Broaddus College. (The institution changed its name to the current "[[Alderson Broaddus University]]" in 2013.)

In 1905 a new [[Barbour County Courthouse]] was completed. It was designed by J. Charles Fulton in a monumental [[Romanesque Revival]] style. The building contractor was J.P. Conn.

Rail activity at Philippi peaked in the 1920s when as many as six passenger trains, along with mail and freight, transited the town daily. The automobile brought about a decline in the local railroad service, however, and the final passenger train made its last stop in Philippi in 1956.<ref>Mattaliano, ''[[Op. cit.]]'', pg. 115.</ref>

Throughout its history, Philippi has suffered from [[floods]] because of its proximity to the river and the relatively low elevation of most of the town. The [[1985 Election day floods|most damaging of these]] came in November 1985. The town has since adopted a [[flood plain]] management plan.

On July 31, 2023, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission revoked Alderson Broaddus University's ability to confer degrees after the end of the year, and ordered to it cease admitting students, due to its "rapidly deteriorating financial condition".<ref>{{cite news |first= Brad |last= McElhinny |url= https://wvmetronews.com/2023/07/31/emergency-meeting-renewed-over-imminent-material-financial-loss-at-alderson-broaddus/ |title= State officials revoke authorization from Alderson Broaddus, order the start of a wind-down |publisher= wvmetronews.com |date= July 31, 2023}}</ref> On the same day, the university's board of trustees voted to close the university.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/02/us/west-virginia-alderson-broaddus-university-closes-students/index.html |title= Financially struggling university in West Virginia closes down, leaving students scrambling |first= Mitchell |last= McCluskey |publisher= [[CNN]] |date= August 2, 2023 }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[Image:PhilippiWV2.jpg|thumb|Court Square in Philippi looking northwest along Main Street ([[U.S. Route 250]]). The [[Barbour County Courthouse]] is at right.]]
Philippi is along the [[Tygart Valley River]] at {{coord|39|9|6|N|80|2|36|W|type:city}} (39.151569, -80.043472).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is within [[Philippi District, Barbour County, West Virginia|Philippi District]] — one of eight [[United States magistrate judge#State courts|magisterial districts]] of Barbour County. The town is sub-divided into Wards 1 through 4.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.95|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.86|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.09|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2013-01-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</ref>

The original settlement that became the town of Philippi was on a section of bottomland at a bend in the river at the mouth of Anglin's Run. This area was later designated "Dayton Park". Opposite this bottomland, at the western landing of "Booth's Ferry", is a sharp ridge which breaks abruptly down to the river and is still known as "Nobusiness Hill". Most of the town is in the bottomland, but a portion, including the former college campus, is on another ridge — "Battle Hill", also called "Talbott's Hill" — overlooking the valley from the northwest. To the south, a third landmark hill — "Grabanickel Hill" — completes the ring of high ground encircling the town.

A railroad line runs through Philippi, now used only by freight trains, passenger rail service having been discontinued in 1956. The [[Philippi station|historic 1911 passenger station]] has served as the Barbour County Historical Museum since the station's restoration in 1979. The town is served by the small, private Philippi-Barbour County Regional Airport.

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Philippi has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=289664&cityname=Philippi%2C+West+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Philippi, West Virginia]</ref>
{{Weather box
| metric first = 
| single line = Yes
| location = Philippi, West Virginia
| Jan avg record high F  = 67
| Feb avg record high F  = 66
| Mar avg record high F  = 76
| Apr avg record high F  = 84
| May avg record high F  = 85
| Jun avg record high F  = 90
| Jul avg record high F  = 89
| Aug avg record high F  = 91
| Sep avg record high F  = 88
| Oct avg record high F  = 80
| Nov avg record high F  = 76
| Dec avg record high F  = 69
| Jan high F  =40.6
| Feb high F  =43.2
| Mar high F  =53.5
| Apr high F  =66.0
| May high F  =72.3
| Jun high F  =80.6
| Jul high F  =82.6
| Aug high F  =82.9
| Sep high F  =77.3
| Oct high F  =65.8
| Nov high F  =56.2
| Dec high F  =44.3
| Jan mean F  =30.8
| Feb mean F  =32.6
| Mar mean F  =41.5
| Apr mean F  =52.9
| May mean F  =60.0
| Jun mean F  =69.1
| Jul mean F  =72.0
| Aug mean F  =72.0
| Sep mean F  =65.5
| Oct mean F  =53.6
| Nov mean F  =44.5
| Dec mean F  =34.4
| Jan low F  =20.9
| Feb low F  =22.0
| Mar low F  =29.4
| Apr low F  =39.7
| May low F  =47.7
| Jun low F  =57.5
| Jul low F  =61.5
| Aug low F  =61.1
| Sep low F  =53.6
| Oct low F  =41.5
| Nov low F  =32.8
| Dec low F  =24.5
| Jan avg record low F  = 1
| Feb avg record low F  = 5
| Mar avg record low F  = 14
| Apr avg record low F  = 26
| May avg record low F  = 35
| Jun avg record low F  = 47
| Jul avg record low F  = 50
| Aug avg record low F  = 52
| Sep avg record low F  = 41
| Oct avg record low F  = 30
| Nov avg record low F  = 21
| Dec avg record low F  = 8

|precipitation colour = green
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inches
| Jan precipitation inch  =3.74
| Feb precipitation inch  =3.39
| Mar precipitation inch  =4.49
| Apr precipitation inch  =3.92
| May precipitation inch  =4.91
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.94
| Jul precipitation inch  =5.18
| Aug precipitation inch  =3.77
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.75
| Oct precipitation inch  =3.26
| Nov precipitation inch  =4.24
| Dec precipitation inch  =3.62
| Jan snow inch  = 16.2
| Feb snow inch  = 10.1
| Mar snow inch  = 7.3
| Apr snow inch  = 1.1
| May snow inch  = trace
| Jun snow inch  = 0.0
| Jul snow inch  = 0.0
| Aug snow inch  = 0.0
| Sep snow inch  = 0.0
| Oct snow inch  = 0.2
| Nov snow inch  = 2.3
| Dec snow inch  = 8.2
| Jan snow depth inch  = 7
| Feb snow depth inch  = 5
| Mar snow depth inch  = 4
| Apr snow depth inch  = 1
| May snow depth inch  = 0
| Jun snow depth inch  = 0
| Jul snow depth inch  = 0
| Aug snow depth inch  = 0
| Sep snow depth inch  = 0
| Oct snow depth inch  = 0
| Nov snow depth inch  = 1
| Dec snow depth inch  = 4
| Jan precipitation days  =17
| Feb precipitation days  =13
| Mar precipitation days  =14
| Apr precipitation days  =14
| May precipitation days  =14
| Jun precipitation days  =13
| Jul precipitation days  =12
| Aug precipitation days  =11
| Sep precipitation days  =11
| Oct precipitation days  =11
| Nov precipitation days  =13
| Dec precipitation days  =16
| year precipitation days =

| Jan humidity    =84
| Feb humidity    =84
| Mar humidity    =80
| Apr humidity    =78
| May humidity    =79
| Jun humidity    =77
| Jul humidity    =78
| Aug humidity    =77
| Sep humidity    =78
| Oct humidity    =79
| Nov humidity    =77
| Dec humidity    =82

| Jan sun  =105.4
| Feb sun  =115.8
| Mar sun  =176.7
| Apr sun  =240
| May sun  =272.8
| Jun sun  =291
| Jul sun  =303.8
| Aug sun  =313.1
| Sep sun  =264
| Oct sun  =173.6
| Nov sun  =156
| Dec sun  =124
| Jand sun  =3.4
| Febd sun  =4.1
| Mard sun  =5.7
| Aprd sun  =8
| Mayd sun  =8.8
| Jund sun  =9.7
| Juld sun  =9.8
| Augd sun  =10.1
| Sepd sun  =8.8
| Octd sun  =5.6
| Novd sun  =5.2
| Decd sun  =4

| Jan uv  =2
| Feb uv  =2
| Mar uv  =3
| Apr uv  =4
| May uv  =5
| Jun uv  =5
| Jul uv  =6
| Aug uv  =5
| Sep uv  =4
| Oct uv  =3
| Nov uv  =2
| Dec uv  =2
|source = National Weather Service(1981-2010,  Temperatures 1999-2009)<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=rlx |website=weather.gov |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 =Weather Atlas(Humidity-Sunshine-UV)<ref>{{cite web |title=Yearly & Monthly Weather - Philippi, WV |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/west-virginia-usa/philippi-climate |website=weather atlas |access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref>
| width = auto
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 378
| 1900 = 665
| 1910 = 1038
| 1920 = 1543
| 1930 = 1767
| 1940 = 1955
| 1950 = 2531
| 1960 = 2228
| 1970 = 3002
| 1980 = 3194
| 1990 = 3132
| 2000 = 2870
| 2010 = 2966
| 2020 = 2929
| estyear = 2021
| estimate = 2922
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 2,929 people and 1,311 households residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1037.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was  84.6% [[White American|White]], 8% [[African American]], 0.7% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 5.3% from [[Multiracial American|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 3.6% of the population.

There were 1311 households, of which 30.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together,  35.9% had a female householder with no spouse present,  24.4% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 42.1% were non-families. The average household and family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 41.8 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile?g=1600000US5463292 |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=2013-01-24 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,966 people, 1,185 households, and 686 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1037.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,383 housing units at an average density of {{convert|483.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.7% [[White American|White]], 2.3% [[African American]], 1.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.9% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 2.9% from [[Multiracial American|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 1,185 households, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no spouse present, 4.8% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 42.1% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 36.4 years. 17.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 20.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.5% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.3% male and 54.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,870 people, 1,119 households, and 668 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,010.6 people per square mile (390.2/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,260 housing units at an average density of 443.7 per square mile (171.3/km<sup>2</sup>).

The racial makeup of the city was 94.77% [[White American|White]], 1.11% [[African American]], 1.05% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.87% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islands American|Pacific Islander]], 0.42% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 1.74% from [[Multiracial American|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 0.80% of the population. In addition, the area has a significant population of racially mixed (though often light-skinned and blue-eyed) people, known locally as 'the [[Chestnut Ridge people]]', whose specific origins are uncertain. They are categorized by many scholars among the [[Melungeon]]s found scattered throughout [[Appalachia]].

There were 1,119 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.92.

The age distribution was 20.9% under the age of 18, 18.0% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,528, and the median income for a family was $31,473. Males had a median income of $27,262 versus $20,579 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,176. About 21.9% of families and 30.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 24.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:Mark Warner's "Apollo" statue on the campus of Alderson Broaddus University in Phillippi, West Virginia LCCN2015631681.tif|thumb|"Apollo" statue on the campus of the now defunct [[Alderson Broaddus University]]]]
Philippi's [[economy]] was originally based on [[coal mining]] and the [[railroad]] industry, but both have declined severely since the mid-20th century. The town's major employers now include Battler's Knob, on the former campus of Alderson Broaddus University which closed in 2023. and [[Broaddus Hospital]]. Many inhabitants work in the [[service industry]], education, and family farming.

The city government provides many services and jobs to stimulate the local economy, including water, electric, garbage collection, and waste water treatment facilities. In addition, a professional police and volunteer fire department are provided. The City of Philippi was voted as a 2004 "All American City".

==Sites of interest==
* The [[Philippi Covered Bridge]] (1852) is located at the junction of [[U.S. Route 250 in West Virginia|U.S. Routes 250]] and [[U.S. Route 119#West Virginia|119]] in downtown Philippi. The bridge is notable for its use during the first land battle of the Civil War. This is the only "twin-barreled" covered bridge located on a federal highway in the United States and it is also one of the longest covered bridges in the country.
* The [[Philippi station|Barbour County Historical Museum]], located in the former railway station, features local history, mostly 19th century. Notable artifacts include the "[[Philippi Mummies]]": embalmed corpses of two female asylum inmates (see [[Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum]]) that were preserved in 1888 by local doctor (and amateur [[mummy|mummification]] enthusiast) Graham Hamrick.
* "Campbell Schoolhouse", [[one-room school]] preserved on the Alderson Broaddus campus.
* Unusual for a town of its size and location, Philippi is home to a [[Maronite]] [[hermit]]age, Our Lady of Solitude.

===Registered Historic Places===
{{main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Barbour County, West Virginia}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Barbour County Courthouse]]
* [[Peck-Crim-Chesser House]]
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* [[Philippi station]]
* [[Philippi Covered Bridge]]
{{col-break}}
* [[Philippi Historic District]]
* [[Whitescarver Hall]]
{{col-end}}

[[Image:Philippi WV - B&O Depot.jpg|thumb|The [[Philippi B&O Railroad Station]] (1911) now houses the County Historical Society Museum.]]

==Notable natives and residents==
* [[Ann Jarvis|Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis]] (1832–1905), [[activism|social activist]] who — along with her daughter [[Anna Jarvis|Anna Marie Jarvis]] (1864–1948) — is credited with founding [[Mother's Day (United States)|Mother's Day]], lived in Philippi for several years, both before and after her 1850 marriage.
* [[Alston G. Dayton]] (1857–1920), [[List of United States Representatives from West Virginia|U.S. Representative]], West Virginia 2nd District, from 1895 to 1905; born in, and practiced law in, Philippi.
* Actor [[Ted Cassidy]] (1932–79), who played [[Lurch (The Addams Family)|Lurch]] and "[[Thing (Addams Family)|Thing]]" on the 1960s TV show ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]'', was raised in Philippi, graduating from Philippi High School ''circa'' 1950.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}}.
*[[Lyle Williams]] (August 23, 1942 – November 7, 2008) was a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from [[Ohio]]. He was born in Philippi.
* [[Scott Mayle]] (b. 1983), ex-[[National Football League|NFL]] player. Born and raised in Philippi, he played football for Philip Barbour, [[Ohio University]], and finally the NFL.{{clarify|date=April 2012}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.philippi.org/ Official site]

{{Barbour County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}
{{West Virginia county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Barbour County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Cities in West Virginia]]
[[Category:County seats in West Virginia]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Tygart Valley River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1871]]
[[Category:Philippi, West Virginia| ]]