The site of the present city was originally part of a grant of several thousand acres to Col. William Preston of Virginia for his service during the American Revolution.

A post office operated from 1844 to 1849; another was opened nearby in 1880 and called Wideawake prior to its removal to Prestonville in 1893.

There were 71 housing units at an average density of 300.7 per square mile (116.1/km2).

22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

About 14.9% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.