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Census Data for Point Pleasant

Population ...

The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Point Pleasant a population of 4,071 people.

The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Point Pleasant a population of 4,350 people.

The city of Point Pleasant is located in Mason County. The 2010 Census gave Mason County; a population of 27,324 people. This means that Point Pleasant had 15.92% of the county's total population, making it Mason's most populous community.

At the same time, West Virginia had a population of 1,852,994 people, meaning that Point Pleasant had 0.23% of the total population of West Virginia - making it the state's 29th most populous community.

Area ...

The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Point Pleasant has a total area of 3.1 square miles [8 km²]. Of this total, 2.4 square miles [6.2 km²] is land, with the balance (22.52%) being water (0.7 square miles [1.8 km²]).

Mason County has a land area of 430.7 square miles [1,115.6 km²]. At 2.4 square miles [6.2 km²], Point Pleasant has 0.56% of the county's total land area.

  • Continue Reading ...
    • When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Point Pleasant, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
    • Things like population, area and housing for Point Pleasant reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Point Pleasant might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
    • Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
    • Lat:   38° 51' 12"   (or 38.85°)
    • Lon:   -82° 7' 50"   (or -82.13°)
    • More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Housing Units ...

At the time of the 2010 Census, Point Pleasant had 2,244 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 4,350 people, this averages 1.94 people per Housing Unit.

  • Continue Reading ...
    • The 2010 Census shows Point Pleasant had a land area of 2.4 square miles [6.2 km²]. This translates to 725 Housing Units per square mile [279.9 housing units/km²].
    • From the Census of 2000: Point Pleasant had 2,313 Housing Units, a population of 4,637 people and a land area of 2.38 square miles [6.2 km²]. This gives a density of 2 people per Housing Unit and 749 Housing Units per square mile [289.6 housing units/km²].
    • Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Point Pleasant and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Mason County ...

The community of Point Pleasant is located in Mason County<4> and is the County Seat for Mason County.

The county had a population of 27,324 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 4,350 people, Point Pleasant represented 15.92% of the county's total.

In addition, where the city of Point Pleasant has a population density of 1,405 people per square mile [542 people/km²], Mason County averages 63.4 people per square mile [24.49 people/km²].

For more information, please visit our Census Page for Mason County.

Census-to-Census Observations ...

Introduction ...

When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Point Pleasant, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Point Pleasant. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.

  • Continue Reading ...
    • Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Point Pleasant or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
    • If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.

Location ...

While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Point Pleasant, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Point Pleasant.

  • Continue Reading ...
    • For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
    • Lat:   38.853511°   (or 38°51'12" N)
    • Lon:   -82.130831°   (or -82°7'50" W)
    • For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
    • Lat:   38.857527°   (or 38°51'27" N)
    • Lon:   -82.128571°   (or -82°7'42" W)
    • The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,598 feet to the southwest<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
    • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2390639) to Point Pleasant. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Point Pleasant. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
    • Lat:   38.852995°   (or 38°51'10" N)
    • Lon:   -82.130257°   (or -82°7'48" W)
    • The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 248.9 feet to the northwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Point Pleasant. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Point Pleasant.

Miscellaneous Information for Point Pleasant ...

The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Mason County or the city of Point Pleasant:

  • The GNIS Codes ...
    • The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to Point Pleasant:
    • GNIS ID for Point Pleasant: 2390639
    • GNIS ID for Mason County: 1560254
    • GNIS ID for State of West Virginia: 1779805
  • Misc. Census Codes ...
    • Point Pleasant is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).

For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Point Pleasant.

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Point Pleasant. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of West Virginia: https://www.wv.gov/

The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau

The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)

The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Footnotes ...

<1>Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019.
<2>Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020.
<3>A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway).
<4>If you're interested in how the shape of West Virginia's counties, including Mason, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 156 degrees and a distance of 1,598 feet.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 40 degrees and a distance of 248.9 feet.









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 10 Mar 2024