According to allcountrylist, Bradley, West Virginia is a small town located in Kanawha County in the Appalachian Mountains. The town is situated at the confluence of the Elk and Coal Rivers and has a total land area of 0.3 square miles. Bradley is bordered by Alum Creek to the south, Pinchgut Creek to the east, and Boggs Fork to the north.
The town is located at an elevation of 833 feet above sea level and enjoys a mild climate with hot summers and cool winters. The average temperature in Bradley ranges from 30°F in January to 79°F in July. Precipitation levels range from an average of 3 inches per month during the summer months to 6 inches per month during winter months.
The terrain surrounding Bradley consists mostly of rolling hills, with some areas reaching elevations up to 1,200 feet above sea level. The landscape is also dotted with numerous creeks, streams, and rivers which feed into larger bodies such as Elk River, Coal River, and Boggs Fork Creek.
The area surrounding Bradley is mostly forested with oak-hickory forests dominating most of the terrain along with some stands of white pine and red spruce trees scattered throughout. Wildlife commonly seen in the area includes whitetail deer, wild turkey, beavers, muskrats, raccoons, opossums and various species of birds such as hawks, owls and woodpeckers.
Overall, Bradley offers its residents a unique combination of rural living amidst a picturesque landscape that provides plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities such as fishing; hiking; camping; hunting; bird watching; kayaking; canoeing; tubing; swimming; horseback riding – all within easy reach!
History of Bradley, West Virginia
According to countryvv, Bradley, West Virginia is a small town located in Kanawha County in the Appalachian Mountains. The town was first settled in 1790 by a group of settlers from Pennsylvania who were looking to establish a community away from the hustle and bustle of the urban centers.
The town was officially incorporated in 1887 and named after Bradley Leake, an early settler and prominent landowner who donated part of his land for the building of a schoolhouse. Initially the economy revolved around agriculture and timber production but with the arrival of the railroad in 1887, coal mining soon became one of the main industry’s within Bradley.
During this time, many immigrant families moved to Bradley to work in the mines and started to build what is now referred to as “Little Italy” – an area within Bradley that is home to many Italian-American families.
In 1925, tragedy struck when an explosion at one of the coal mines killed 21 miners, including several children who were accompanying their fathers underground. This event had a lasting impact on Bradley as it highlighted some of the dangers associated with working in coal mines and spurred a movement towards improved safety regulations for miners across West Virginia.
As coal mining declined during mid-20th century, so did Bradleys population as many residents moved away looking for better job opportunities elsewhere. In recent years however, there has been some resurgence with new businesses opening up as well as an ongoing effort by city officials to promote tourism within Bradley and attract more visitors from outside areas.
Economy of Bradley, West Virginia
Bradley, West Virginia is a small town located in Kanawha County in the Appalachian Mountains. The economy of Bradley has historically revolved around coal mining and timber production. In the late 19th century, the arrival of the railroad spurred an increase in coal mining within Bradley and many immigrant families moved to town to take part in this industry.
During mid 20th century, coal mining began to decline and this had a major impact on Bradleys population as many residents moved away looking for better job opportunities elsewhere. However, despite the decline of coal mining, other industries have taken its place and are now contributing to Bradleys economy.
One such industry is tourism as city officials have been working hard to promote Bradley as a tourist destination by highlighting its picturesque landscape and outdoor recreation opportunities such as fishing; hiking; camping; hunting; bird watching; kayaking; canoeing; tubing; swimming; horseback riding – all within easy reach!
Agriculture is another major industry with local farmers growing a variety of crops, most notably tobacco which is still one of Bradleys main exports today. Additionally, there are several businesses located within Bradley that provide goods and services for those living in the surrounding area. These include convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants and auto repair shops among others.
Overall, despite some economic struggles over the years due to declining coal mining activity, Bradley is slowly transitioning into an economy that is more diversified and focused on tourism as well as other industries such as agriculture and retail.
Politics in Bradley, West Virginia
Bradley, West Virginia is located within Kanawha County and is part of the 6th Congressional District. Politically, Bradley has traditionally been a strong Democratic area although in recent years there has been an increasing shift towards Republicanism.
The town of Bradley is governed by a Mayor-Council form of government with the mayor being elected every four years by popular vote. The current mayor is Bill Brown who was elected in 2020. The city council consists of seven members who are also elected to four-year terms and are responsible for setting policies for the town such as taxes, regulations and development plans.
At the state level, Bradley is represented by two senators and three delegates in the West Virginia Legislature. All five members are Democrats who have held their positions since 2014 and have worked hard to ensure that Bradley’s interests are represented at the state level.
At the national level, Bradley is part of the 6th Congressional District which is currently represented by Democrat Richard Ojeda. Ojeda was first elected to Congress in 2018 and has worked hard to pass legislation that benefits his constituents such as increased funding for infrastructure projects; expanding access to healthcare; protecting Social Security; extending unemployment benefits; and raising wages for federal employees among other initiatives.
Overall, politics in Bradley have become increasingly partisan over time but residents still remain largely supportive of Democratic candidates due to their commitment to ensuring that local interests are well represented at all levels of government.