Allen

History

Allen was first settled in the early 19th century. The first post office was named "Mouth of Beaver" and was established on August 21, 1854 (Thomas P. Johns, postmaster). The town began to develop rapidly after the establishment of a Chesapeake and Ohio Railway station. The station was interchangeably known as "Beaver Creek" and "Beaver Creek Junction". In 1936, the railroad station was renamed to prevent confusion during mail delivery. An area outside the city limits known as "New Allen" began to develop in 1937 after a bridge was constructed across the Levisa Fork River. On October 16, 1981, a mass shooting occurred, when 70-year-old William Bevins shot eight people at an auto parts store, killing five and wounding three others. The shooting was reportedly sparked by a dispute with one of the victims. On June 30, 2022, a mass shooting targeting police officers occurred in Allen. Three police officers and a police dog were killed, and four other people were injured, including three officers. The alleged shooter, 49-year-old Lance Storz, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder of a police officer.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Allen has a total area of , of which , or 7.06%, is water.

Race & ethnicity