Winchester

Winchester is the most north western independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 28,120. Winchester is home to Shenandoah University and the Museum of the ShenandoAH Valley.Indigenous peoples lived along the waterways of present-day Virginia for thousands of years before European contact. European settlement of Winchester began as early as 1729, when Quakers such as Abraham Hollingsworth migrated up the Great Wagon Road. The Scots-Irish comprised the most numerous group of immigrants from the British Isles before the American Revolutionary War. The first confirmed exploration of the northern valley was by the explorer John Lederer, who viewed the region from the current Fauquier and Warren County line on August 26, 1670. In 1705 the Swiss explorer Louise Michel and in 1716 Governor Alexander Spotswood did more extensive mapping and surveying. In the late 1720s, Governor William Gooch promoted settlement by issuing large land grants. This combination of events directly precipitated an inrush of settlers from Pennsylvania and New York, made up of a blend of Quakers and German and Scots- Irish homesteaders, many of them new immigrants. Though Virginia was an Anglican colony, Governor Gooch had a tolerant policy on religion, who were often given 50-acre plots through the availability of land grants in the frontier region. The Iroquois Confederacy from New York (particularly Seneca from the western part of the territory) subjugated all tribes in the region west of the Fall Line.

History

Winchester is the primary city name, but also Hayfield are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Winchester. Indigenous peoples lived along the waterways of present-day Virginia for thousands of years before European contact. By the time European settlers arrived in the Shenandoah Valley around 1729, the Shawnee were the principal occupants in the area around Winchester. During the first decade of white settlement, the valley was also a conduit and battleground in a bloody intertribal war between the Seneca and allied Algonquian Lenape from the north, and their distant traditional enemies, the Siouan Catawba in the Carolinas. The Shawnee settled for some years in the Ohio Country before being forced by the US government under Indian Removal in the 1830s to remove to Indian Territory. The settlement of Winchester began as early as 1729 when Quakers such as Abraham Hollingsworth migrated up (south) the Great Valley along the long-traveled Indian Path (later called the Great Wagon Road by the colonists) The first German settler appears to have been Jost Hite in 1732, who brought other families, including some Scots-Irish. The first Lutheran and Anglican churches in the valley worship was established by Rev. John Casper Stoever Jr. in 1735. By 1736, the oldest legal claim to Virginia came to his land grant to his son-in-law, Thomas Fairfax, Sixth Lord of Fairfax, who established the Opequon Presbyterian Church in Kernstown, Virginia. It became home to some of the oldest Presbyterian, Quaker, and Lutheran churches in Virginia.

Geography

Winchester is located at 39°1041N 78°1001W. It is in the Shenandoah Valley, located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains. I-81 passes through the city, along with US 50, US 522, US 17, and SR 7. The city is approximately 75 miles (121 km) to the west of Washington, D.C., 24 miles (39 km) south of Martinsburg, West Virginia, 25 miles (40 km) north of Front Royal, 118 miles (190 km)South of Harrisburg, PA and 180 miles (290 km)North of Roanoke. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Winchester has either a humid continental climate or a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. The hardiness zone is 6b, which means the climate is very hot and humid in the summer and very mild in the winter. The average temperature in the city is °F (°C) to °C (°F to F). The city has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24 km²) according to the United States Census Bureau, virtually all land. It has a population of 1,071. The population of Winchester in 2010 was 1,082. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city's population to be 1,091.

Demographics

As of the census of 2016, the population of Winchester was 27,516. 48.6% of the population was male vs 51.4% being female. There were 10,596 households with an average of 2.49 persons per household. The median income for a household (from 2012 to 2016) in the city was $46,466, while the per capita income was $26,984. As of September 2015 the unemployment rate was 3.9%. 83.5% of those 25 years of age or older had earned a high school degree or higher. 31.3% had completed a bachelor's degree or more. The estimated house or condo value was $230,125. The Median gross rent was $1,036. In 2014 the median age of thePopulation was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. The city has a population density of 2957.1/mi2(1141.7/km²) The city's population is 81.1% White alone, 11.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0,1% Pacific Islander, 3.46% from other races, and 3. 4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.8 per cent of the Population of Winchester. An estimated 15 per cent was below the poverty line. The number of people per square mile in Winchester is 2957, with 11,907 housing units.

Apple Blossom

Winchester has more than 20 different "artistic" apples that are made of various materials including wood, rubber pipe, plaster, and paint. These apples were created in 2005 by occupants of the city, and were placed at a specific location at the artists' request after being auctioned off. For example, a bright red apple with a large stethoscope attached to it was placed beside a much-used entrance to the Winchester Medical Center. The festival includes a carnival, firework show, parades, several dances and parties, and a coronation where the Apple Blossom Queen is crowned. Local school systems and many businesses close the Friday of Apple Blossom weekend. It is usually held during the first weekend in May. The Apple Blossom Festival has been held in Winchester, Virginia, since 1924, and is one of the largest apple festivals in the United States. It's held every year on the first Saturday in May, and the festival is free and open to the public.

Economy

Winchester was home to Capitol Records' East Coast Pressing Plant. Records pressed here include the Beatles' Abbey Road, Simon and Garfunkel's The Concert in Central Park and Richard Pryor's self-titled album. Capitol Records announced in late 1987 that it would end tape duplicating production in the US, in favor of offshore manufacturing, including in Winchester by early 1988. More than 500 employees were out of work when they closed the Winchester plant in 1988. American Woodmark, Trex, and Rubbermaid Commercial Products are based in Winchester. Federal agencies with operations in Winchester include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The Winchester plant began construction in 1968 and production in 1969. The plant initially had a workforce of 250 people. This plant complemented the other existing manufacturing facilities of Capitol Records in Scranton, PA, Jacksonville, FL and Los Angeles, CA. It began phasing out its vinyl manufacturing in 1969 when the new Winchester plant was built. It was closed in 1988, putting more than 500 people out ofwork when the plant was closed. It is now owned by a private equity firm and is being used to build a new record processing plant in Virginia. It will be known as the Winchester Record Plant and is expected to open in the spring of 2015. It has a capacity of more than 1,000 employees and employs more than 2,000 people. It also has a tape production plant.

Top employers

According to the City's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: The City's top employers are: the city's largest employers. The city's top employees are the top three employers in all of the city. The top employers for the city in 2016 were: theCity's biggest employers are the city’s largest employers: the City’S largest employers are also the largest employers for women and minorities. The City has the highest percentage of women and the lowest percentage of men in its top employers. In 2016, the city had the highest level of female employment. In 2015, it had the lowest level of male employment, with the lowest rate for men and the highest rate for women. In 2014, the number of men and women in the top 10 employers was the highest for the first time since 2008. In 2013, it was the lowest for the last five years. In 2012, it reached the highest levels for the past five years in a row. In 2011, it hit the top five. In 2010, it topped the list in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2008, it rose to the top four times in a year and a half. In 2007, it became the highest in a decade. In the last three years, it has been the top employer in the last four years. It is the highest since 2007. In 2006, it is the fastest-growing city in the state. In 2009, it ranks No. 1 in the nation.

Sports

Winchester is home to the Winchester Royals, part of the Valley Baseball League. Winchester Speedway is a 3/8 mile clay oval track. Shenandoah University is located in Winchester and has numerous male and female sports in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Winchester is also home to a number of touring series, such as the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The Winchester Royals are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association-sanctioned collegiate summer baseball league. The Royals play their home games at the Winchester Speedway, which is located on the outskirts of the city. The team is known as the Royals because of their resemblance to the Royals baseball team of the same name, who play in the same league. Winchester also hosts the Winchester High School football team, as well as the Winchester Junior High football team and the Winchester Senior High School cheerleading squad. The town is also the home of Winchester High, which plays host to numerous high school and junior high sports teams, including the Winchester Jamborees and Winchester Jammers. The city also has the Winchester Elementary School, which was founded in 1883. The school is located near the center of the town, and has a football field, track, and other sports facilities. Winchester has a population of 3,000. It is also known as one of the fastest-growing cities in Virginia, with a population growth rate of 1.7% in the last decade. The population of Winchester is 2,000, the highest in the state.

Infrastructure

I-81 is the most prominent highway serving Winchester. Other highways passing through Winchester include U.S. Route 11, U.N. Route 522 and Virginia State Route 7. Winchester Regional Airport provides general aviation and air taxi service to the area. Winchester Transit provides weekday transit for the city of Winchester. Winchester is located on the Ohio River, which runs through the center of the city. It is also on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which connects the city to the East Coast and the West Coast. The city is on the National Highway System, which links it to several states, including Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. It also connects to the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border, which is located to the east. Winchester has a population of 2.2 million. The population of Winchester was 2.3 million at the end of the 2011 census. The town has a total population of 3.4 million. It has a latitude and longitude of 45.7 miles (72.7 kilometers) and a latitude/longitude of 20.8 miles (32.2 kilometers) respectively. It was founded in 1881. It lies on theOhio River, and is located in the eastern part of the state. It borders the West Virginians to the north, and the Virginia-West Virginia border to the south. The Winchester area has a long history of railroads, with the first being built in the 19th century. Winchester was the first city in the United States to have a public transit system.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia = 81.1. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 40. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 20. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Winchester = 4.1 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 28,120 individuals with a median age of 36.4 age the population grows by 10.76% in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 3,100 residents per square mile of area (1,200/km²). There are average 2.26 people per household in the 11,208 households with an average household income of $44,296 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 7.30% of the available work force and has dropped -3.97% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 24.76%. The number of physicians in Winchester per 100,000 population = 806.5.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Winchester = 38 inches and the annual snowfall = 23.2 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 120. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 196. 86 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 23.1 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 45, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia which are owned by the occupant = 43.79%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 41 years with median home cost = $139,690 and home appreciation of -20.35%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $6.17 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $6,144 per student. There are 12 students for each teacher in the school, 169 students for each Librarian and 315 students for each Counselor. 4.82% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 14.42% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 9.82% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).