EASTERN PANHANDLE
Berkeley County ‑ The second oldest county in West Virginia, was created in 1772 from the northern third of Frederick County and named for Norborne Berkeley (Baron de Botetourt), Colonial Governor of Virginia from 1768 to 1770. Morgan Morgan founded the first permanent settlement in 1726 at Bunker Hill. In 1740, Morgan, Jacob Hite, and Dr. John Briscoe erected the first Episcopal Church (Christ Church) in what is now West Virginia. Occasionally services are held in this church today. Also the Tuscarora (organized in 1740 and built in 1803) and Tomahawk Presbyterian churches are both over 200 years old and still operating with active congregations. The first Baptist church (Mill Creek Church) was organized in 1743 in nearby Gerrardstown. The chief agricultural and industrial products are fruit, vegetables, hay, grain, dairy farming, livestock, poultry, canneries, clothing, cement and road materials. Martinsburg, incorporated in 1778, was founded by General Adam Stephen, a friend and contemporary of George Washington and Patrick Henry. The town was named in honor of Colonel Thomas Bryan Martin, nephew of Lord Fairfax. An armory that produced guns for the American Revolution was owned by General Adam Stephen and housed in Martinsburg. Morgan Morgan formed the first National Guard in this area in 1735. George Washington led these troops at the beginning of the War of Independence. The second oldest bridge in West Virginia, the Van Metre Ford Bridge, was built in 1832 and is a three‑arched stone bridge across Opequon Creek. In 1842, the B&O Railroad brought new growth and prosperity. At this time, large warehouses and hotels, as well as new industrial complexes were erected. During the Civil War, both sides took a keen interest in Martinsburg -- not only for its location but also because of the railroad. The North was determined to keep this vital transportation and communication link open; the South was equally determined to destroy it. During the summer of 1861, Union troops occupied Martinsburg. Confederates led by Stonewall Jackson, burned and destroyed the roundhouse, machine shop and rail lines. They burned dozens of passenger and other railroad cars as well as 35 locomotives. Then the partially damaged locomotives were hauled over land to Winchester, Virginia -- 22 miles away. For the remainder of the war, both armies fought bitterly over control of the railroad. Between June 1861 and September 1864, the line was destroyed by Confederate troops and repaired by Union soldiers nine different times. Great losses were suffered during the war and Martinsburg was slow to recover from both the physical and emotional scarring of this national tragedy. Boydville, built in 1812 by General Elisha Boyd, famous during the War of 1812, was spared from burning by Union troops during the Civil War on direct orders of President Abraham Lincoln. The childhood home of the famous Confederate spy, Belle Boyd, is also located in Martinsburg. As the story goes, following a Fourth of July celebration in 1861, a group of rowdy Union soldiers broke into Belle's home to take down the Confederate flag and replace it with a Union one. Belle's mother told the soldiers that her family would burn the Union flag. One of the drunken soldiers insulted her mother, struck her, and knocked her down at which time Belle shot and killed the soldier. Belle, only 17 at the time, was not prosecuted because the soldier was drunk. She was sent to live with her aunt in Winchester where she became a spy for the Confederacy. In the late 1940s, Martinsburg experienced a series of changes in business that served as the commercial foundation for the town. The railroad continues to flourish by providing daily commuter rail service to the Washington Metropolitan area. The Historic Baltimore and Ohio Ticket Station and Railroad Hotel is being revitalized to become an Intermodal Transportation Center offering ticketing services, an interchange for bus and rail service, as well as a convenient parking facility.
Jefferson County ‑ This county was formed in 1801 from Berkeley County and named for Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, and third president of the United States. From 1748‑1752, George Washington and his brother Lawrence acquired tens of thousands of acres of land along Bullskin Run and throughout Jefferson County. Neither brother built homes in the area; however, several brothers and future generations did. Harewood, built by Samuel Washington in 1770 was maintained by the Washington family for over 230 years and was the site of the marriage of James Madison and Dolly Payne Todd. The leading industries and chief agricultural products are cement and road materials, clothing, paper, boxboard, lumber, brass, lime-marl, dolomite, fertilizer, fruit, livestock, hay, grain and dairy farming. Shepherdstown claims to be the oldest town in West Virginia, originally chartered in 1762 as Mecklenburg. The town was the site of the first newspaper in the state, "Potowmac Guardian and Berkeley Advertiser," published by Nathaniel Willis in November 1790. James Rumsey successfully demonstrated a steamboat on the Potomac River in 1787, two decades before Robert Fulton. In 1859 the small town of Harpers Ferry became known throughout the country. Settled in 1732 by Peter Stephens, the town was named for Robert Harper, who in 1747 bought Stephens’ "squatters' rights” and operated the first ferries across the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. In 1794, President George Washington commissioned an armory and arsenal to be built in Harpers Ferry. Operations began at the armory in 1801 and during the next 60 years, over 600,000 weapons were produced. During the night of October 16, 1859, an abolitionist by the name of John Brown entered the quiet town. With his "Provisional Army of the U.S.", Brown was able to take control of the railroad bridge, depot, arsenal and armory without a shot being fired or an alarm being sounded. Brown was determined to fight "until slavery is done for." Ironically, the first person killed was a black man, baggage porter Heyward Shepherd, who ran when Brown's men yelled halt. The shot alarmed others and by mid‑morning Brown's escape routes were cut off. President James Buchanan sent 90 U.S. Marines under the command of Lt. Colonel Robert E. Lee to capture Brown and release his hostages from the armory's fire engine house. The Marines charged at 7:00 a.m. on October 18 and in three minutes the battle was over. Brown, wounded, was captured and taken to Charles Town, the county seat, for trial. Brown was found guilty of treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia, insurrection and murder. At 11:30 a.m., December 2, 1859, John Brown was hung as troops from the Virginia Military Institute, under the command of Thomas J. Jackson, looked on. Many historians claim John Brown's raid precipitated the oncoming Civil War. Two of the three treason trials in U.S. history were tried in the Charles Town courthouse. The first rural free delivery service of mail in the U.S. was started between Charles Town, Urilla and Halltown in 1896.
Morgan County ‑ This county was created from parts of Berkeley and Hampshire counties in 1820 and named for General Daniel Morgan, prominent Revolutionary soldier. The leading industrial and agricultural products are glass, sand, tomatoes, fruit and rye. Berkeley Springs is the county seat. The town of Bath, named for Bath, England, and famed for its waters, was incorporated in 1776. The post office name of Berkeley Springs is a combination of the name Norborne Berkeley, Governor of Virginia (1768‑1770), and the warm medicinal springs found here. Maintaining a year‑round temperature of 74.3 degrees Fahrenheit, the springs are now a state park.
HATFIELD-MCCOY MOUNTAINS
Boone County ‑ Formed in 1847 and named for frontiersman Daniel Boone. The leading industrial and agricultural products are coal, lumber, natural gas, tobacco and strawberries. The county seat, Madison, was the site of the first Boone Court House, which burned during the Civil War. The town was incorporated in 1906 and named for Colonel William Madison Peyton, pioneer coal operator, and a leader of the movement to create the county.
Lincoln County ‑ Created from parts of Cabell, Putnam, Kanawha and Boone Counties in 1867 and named for President Abraham Lincoln. The leading industrial and agricultural products are petroleum, natural gas, lumber, tobacco, corn and potatoes. The county seat of Hamlin is thought to have been chartered around 1867; however, records were destroyed when the courthouse caught fire in 1909. The town was named for Leonides Lent Hamline, a Methodist bishop, and is the home town of retired Brigadier General Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, test pilot and first man to break the sound barrier.
Logan County ‑ Formed from parts of Giles, Tazewell, Cabell and Kanawha Counties in 1824 and named for the Mingo Indian Chief, Logan. The chief agricultural and industrial products are livestock, dairying, corn, potatoes, lumber, coal and electrical power. The county seat of Logan was first laid out in 1827 and was known as Lawnville. Chartered in 1852, the town was called Aracoma, after the daughter of Shawnee Chief Cornstalk. Princess Aracoma was killed in a battle between her tribe and area settlers. Her story is told every August in the outdoor drama "Aracoma Story". The name was changed again in 1907 to Logan.
Mingo County ‑ The youngest county in West Virginia was formed from Logan County in 1895 and named for the Indian tribe of which Logan was chief. The leading agricultural products and industries are livestock, corn, potatoes, coal and lumber. The county seat of Williamson was incorporated in 1905 and named for the city founder, Wallace J. Williamson, who owned most of the town's land. The town of Matewan is the area where the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky fought across the Tug Fork River. Stories contend differing catalysts for the feud including that it started during the Civil War; was over ownership of a razorback hog; the illegitimate birth of Rose Ann McCoy and Johnson Hatfield's child in 1881; and the election of 1882. It is known that a Kentucky judge awarded ownership of the hog to the Hatfields and on Election Day in August 1882, a fight started between Tolbert McCoy and Ellison Hatfield. Hatfield was mortally wounded and three of his brothers captured his assailants. On the day Ellison died, the captured McCoy brothers were taken into Kentucky, tied to some bushes and shot. The McCoys tried to have the Hatfields prosecuted and began kidnapping family members and taking them across the border to Kentucky. The Hatfields went after their clansmen and on January 1, 1888, a bloody battle erupted, with members of both families killed. The fight gained national attention. Although no one is actually sure how the feud started or ended, Devil Anse Hatfield is buried in Logan County beneath his life size statue. Theatre West Virginia in Beckley puts on the outdoor drama "Hatfields and McCoys" every summer at Cliffside Amphitheater. In the early 1900s, the United Mine Workers Association tried to establish unionization of West Virginia's coal fields and on May 19, 1920, the situation escalated into the "Matewan Massacre." Here Baldwin‑Felts' agents (representing the coal companies), union men and prounion local officials fought and 10 lives were lost. This battle was reenacted in the acclaimed John Sayles’ movie "Matewan."
Wayne County ‑ Created from Cabell County in 1842 and named in honor of General Anthony Wayne of Revolutionary War fame. The leading industrial and chief agricultural products are coal, natural gas, lumber, cement and concrete, hay, grain, tobacco, livestock, dairying, poultry, fruit, vegetables and sorghum. The town of Wayne is the county seat and was originally founded in 1842 as Trout's Hill in honor of Abraham Trout, an early settler and owner of the land. One of the first settlers in Ceredo, Z. D. Ramsdell, an abolitionist, built a home in 1858 which served as a final stop on the Underground Railroad. The town boasts one of the oldest official beautification commissions in West Virginia and in 1979 was selected winner of the first Governor's Award as "Outstanding All‑West Virginia City." Located at the point where three states converge, Kenova was founded in 1889 and the name is a compounded abbreviation of the three states‑‑Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia.
METRO REGION
Cabell County ‑ Created in 1809 from Kanawha County and named in honor of William H. Cabell, governor of Virginia, from 1805 ‑1808. The chief agricultural and industrial products are tobacco, dairying, fruit, poultry, sorghum, glass, alloys of nickel, railway and mine cars, clothing, steel, rails, chemicals, shoes, lumber and natural gas. The county seat of Huntington was incorporated in 1871 and named for its founder, Collis P. Huntington. Huntington was a civil engineer and president of the C&O Railroad. He laid out the town to be the western terminus for his railroad. In 1884, he became the first man in the United States to ride his own railroad car from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean over tracks he either owned or controlled. Heritage Village was built from the old Ohio River Railroad Depot as a memorial to Huntington's railroad history. It features an old steam locomotive, pullman car, warehouse and boxcar filled with shops. The Old Bank of Huntington is located in the village and features the original tellers cage grillwork. This bank was robbed on September 8, 1875, only two months after receiving its charter, by the notorious Jesse James gang. Barboursville, originally the county seat, was chartered in 1813 and named for James Barbour, governor of Virginia, from 1812‑1814.
Kanawha County ‑ Formed in 1788 from parts of Greenbrier and Montgomery Counties, this county was named for the Great Kanawha River, which received its name from the Indians that once lived in the area. The leading industrial and agricultural products are chemicals, brine, petroleum, natural gas, axes and tools, electric power, enamelware, lumber, mine machinery, dairy farming, poultry, hay, grain, fruit, vegetables and livestock. The chemical industry is such a force that the area is known as the "Chemical Capital of the World." Union Carbide Corporation founded the petrochemical industry in 1920 when it purchased a small natural gas plant in Clendenin and transformed it into a combined ethylene and chemicals plant. By 1925, the manufacturing of chemicals had grown so that another plant was needed. Expansion continued into the 1940s throughout the valley. Some of the end uses of products manufactured in the county are car seats, furniture, chewing gum, paint primers, food moisturizers, cosmetics, brake fluid and several agricultural products including Sevin. George Clendenin, one of the earliest settlers, named Charleston for his father, Charles. Daniel Boone settled at Fort Lee, a frontier post located here. The state capital was here from 1870 to 1875 and has remained in Charleston since 1885. Charleston is considered the largest city in West Virginia and most populous. The Creil Indian Mound located in South Charleston was excavated by the Smithsonian Institute in 1883‑1884 and revealed 14 skeletons, a copper headdress, arrow heads, shells, flint lance heads and shell beads, all of which are now housed at the Smithsonian. Nitro, at the western end of the county, was incorporated in 1932. The town was established by the federal government and selected in 1914 for the site of the world's largest gun powder plant. Ground for the plant was broken in December 1917. World War I ended before any gun powder was ever shipped.
Mason County ‑ Formed in 1804 from parts of Kanawha County and named for George Mason, author of the Constitution of Virginia and a member of the convention that framed the Constitution of the United States. This county comprised part of the proposed colony of Vandalia, the capital of which was to be Point Pleasant. Among the earliest visitors to the area were LaSalle in 1669 and Washington in 1770. The leading industrial and agricultural products are electric power, coal, polyester resins, plastic film, flame retardant plasterizers, synthetic hydraulic fluids and lubricants, salt, hay, grain, tobacco, livestock, dairy products, poultry, fruit and vegetables. Point Pleasant, the county seat, was named for Camp Point Pleasant, established by General Andrew Lewis in 1774. Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, this is where Lewis and his men fought Chief Cornstalk during Lord Dunmore's War. This was the bloodiest battle ever fought between the Indians and white settlers and many claim this to be the first battle of the American Revolution. Point Pleasant Battle Monument State Park is the burial ground of Chief Cornstalk and frontierswoman "Mad" Ann Bailey.
Putnam County ‑ Created in 1848 from parts of Kanawha, Mason and Cabell Counties, this area was named for General Israel Putnam, New England soldier and patriot. The chief agricultural and industrial products are tobacco, hay, grain, livestock, dairying, coal and chemicals. The first Civil War battle of the Kanawha Valley was fought at Scary Creek on July 17, 1861. The county seat of Winfield was incorporated in 1868 and named in honor of General Winfield Scott of Mexican War fame. Eleanor was named for Eleanor Roosevelt when it was incorporated in 1966. This “new deal” town was the site of the first vocational technical center in West Virginia.
MID-OHIO VALLEY
Calhoun County ‑ Created in 1856 from Gilmer County, this county was named for John C. Calhoun, the South Carolina statesmen. The area is known for petroleum, natural gas, lumber, hay, grain, poultry and dairy farming. Grantsville, the county seat, was named for President Ulysses S. Grant in 1896.
Jackson County ‑ Created in 1831 from Kanawha, Mason and Wood Counties and was named in honor of President Andrew Jackson. Leading industrial and agricultural products are pulpwood, oil, gas, poultry, livestock and tobacco. The county seat of Ripley was originally chartered in 1832 and named for Harry Ripley, who drowned in Big Mill Creek in 1830. Ripley is home to the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair, the granddaddy of all the West Virginia arts and crafts fairs. The town was the site of the last public hanging in West Virginia in 1897 when John F. Morgan was hung for the murder of three members of the Pfost‑Greene family on December 16.
Pleasants County ‑ Named for James Pleasants, Jr., governor of Virginia from 1822‑1825, this county was created in 1851 from Ritchie, Tyler and Wood Counties. Petroleum, poultry and dairy farming are predominant in this area. The county seat of St. Marys rests on the banks of the Ohio River. Alexander H. Creel named the town in 1849 in honor of the Virgin Mary, who Creel claimed appeared to him in a vision while he was aboard a steamer passing the area. St. Marys is home of the West Virginia Bass Festival.
Ritchie County ‑ Formed from parts of Wood, Harrison and Lewis Counties in 1843 and named for the Virginia journalist, Thomas Ritchie. This county is known for petroleum, natural gas, clothing manufacturing, glass making, hay and grain. Several garment factories are located in Harrisville, the county seat, which was chartered in 1869 and named for pioneer Thomas Harris. Cairo, the home of North Bend State Park, was incorporated in 1895. The name was derived from the city in Egypt due to the water and fertile grounds the first settlers (Scotch Presbyterians) found for their crops.
Roane County ‑ Named for Judge Spencer Roane, son‑in-law of Patrick Henry, this area was created from parts of Kanawha, Jackson and Gilmer Counties in 1856. Leading industrial and agricultural products are petroleum, natural gas, lumber, hay, grain and poultry. The county seat of Spencer was originally chartered in 1858 and known as New California. It was incorporated in 1867 and renamed in honor of Judge Spencer Roane. It has been home to the West Virginia Black Walnut Festival since 1956.
Wirt County ‑ Formed from Wood and Jackson Counties in 1848 and named for noted author, orator and lawyer William Wirt. Lumber, petroleum, poultry and dairy farming are the leading industrial and agricultural products. The county is home to the Palestine State Fish Hatchery where four million bass are raised each year. Elizabeth, chartered in 1822, is the county seat and was named in honor of Elizabeth Beauchamp, wife of a prominent early settler.
Wood County ‑ Named for Virginia Governor James Wood, 1796‑1799, in 1798. The main industrial and agricultural products of the county are nylon, tools, plastic, glass, pharmaceuticals, porcelain, electrical equipment, steel and metal products, petroleum, poultry, fruit, hay, grain and dairy farming. Parkersburg, known as Newport until 1810, is the county seat. Also known as the "The Savings Bond Capital of America", every savings bond bought or redeemed has passed through Parkersburg since August, 1957. Early in 1862 the first public school for black children in the south, opened in Parkersburg. In 1798, exiled Irish aristocrats Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett built an estate on an island in the Ohio River located at Parkersburg and became entangled in Aaron Burr's ill‑fated expedition to the southwest. The Virginia militia invaded the island causing Burr and the Blennerhassetts to flee. After Burr's treason trial, the Blennerhassetts lost their fortune and died in poverty. Their mansion burned to the ground in 1811. The mansion has been rebuilt and is open to the public on the grounds of Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. The Ohio River, between Blennerhassett Island and Parkersburg, has long been regarded by rivermen as one of the most dangerous sections through which to maneuver a craft. It gained the dubious title "Graveyard of the Ohio,” since numerous boats sank there. Williamstown, located north of Parkersburg, was incorporated in 1921 and named for its founder Isaac Williams. It is home to Fenton Art Glass Company, one of the world's major producers of decorator art glass. Fenton includes a glass museum which illustrates the history of glass blowing in the area.
MOUNTAIN LAKES
Braxton County ‑ Formed in 1836 from parts of Lewis, Kanawha and Nicholas Counties and named for Carter Braxton, Virginia statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Salt works were located at Bulltown and in 1772, Captain Bull and his friendly Delaware Indian followers were massacred by frontiersmen. The leading agricultural and industrial products are hay, grain, poultry, dairy farming, livestock, lumber and natural gas. The town of Burnsville was incorporated in 1902 and named for Captain John Burns who operated the first sawmill in the area and established the town after the Civil War. The center of population for West Virginia is found near Gassaway, incorporated in 1905 and named in honor of Henry Gassaway Davis, a United States Senator and pioneer coal operator. The geographical center of the state is found near Sutton, the county seat. The town was established as Suttonsville in 1826 and named for John D. Sutton, the founder, and incorporated in 1883.
Clay County ‑ Formed from parts of Braxton, Kanawha and Nicholas Counties in 1858 and named in honor of Henry Clay, Kentucky statesman. The leading industrial and agricultural products in this county are coal, lumber, natural gas, petroleum, camper manufacturing, hay, grain, livestock and poultry. The Golden Delicious Apple originated on Porters Creek. The county seat of Clay was incorporated in 1895.
Gilmer County ‑ Formed from parts of Lewis and Kanawha Counties in 1845, this area was named for Thomas Walker Gilmer, governor of Virginia, from 1840‑1841, and later a representative in Congress and Secretary of the Navy under President Tyler. The leading industrial and agricultural products are petroleum, natural gas, coal, lumber, hay, grain, livestock, poultry and dairy farming. The county seat of Glenville, formerly known as Stewart's Creek and Hartford, was incorporated in 1871 and is home to the West Virginia State Folk Festival. This is where Mrs. Ellen King and H.A. Eagle composed the West Virginia state song "The West Virginia Hills."
Lewis County ‑ Created from Harrison County in 1816 and named for Colonel Charles Lewis, famous soldier and leader among the Virginia Pioneers, who was killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. The chief industrial and agricultural products in this area are glass, petroleum, natural gas, lumber, livestock, dairy farming, hay, grain and poultry. The first Methodist Protestant Church in the United States was organized in 1829 at Old Harmony Church near Jane Lew by John Mitchell and David Smith. Jackson's Mill is the boyhood home of Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and is the location of the state-owned 4‑H conference center. Weston, the county seat, was originally founded in 1818 as Preston. The name was changed to Flesherville in 1819 and to Weston later that same year. The origin of the name of Weston is unknown. Home of what was once the state's oldest and largest mental institution, which opened in 1864; The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is also the largest hand‑cut stone building in the United States. Weston is also the home of Hacker's Creek Pioneer Descendant's Genealogy Library.
Nicholas County ‑ Formed in 1818 from parts of Kanawha, Greenbrier and Randolph Counties, this area was named for Wilson Cary Nicholas, governor of Virginia from 1814 to 1816. The leading industrial and agricultural products are lumber, shoe manufacturing, coal, potatoes, buckwheat, oats, livestock and poultry. Summersville, the county seat, was incorporated in 1897 and named in honor of Judge Lewis Summers, who introduced the bill to create Nicholas County to the Virginia Assembly. Summersville Lake is known for the excellent scuba diving and fishing available, and releases from Summersville Dam in the fall produce world‑class rafting on the Gauley River. Normally, dams are named after the nearest town; however, in this case, authorities thought it best to choose Summersville because the small town nearest the dam was Gad. Carnifex Ferry was the site of a battle in 1861 between Confederate General Floyd and Union General Rosencrans. The Union outnumbered the rebels 10 to one, but lost eight times as many men. Although Floyd finally withdrew, both sides claimed a victory.
Upshur County ‑ Created in 1851 from Randolph, Barbour and Lewis Counties and named for Abel Parker Upshur, a distinguished statesman and jurist from Virginia. Leading agricultural and industrial products are livestock, dairy farming, strawberries, corn, lumber, coal, natural gas and clothing. The West Virginia State Wildlife Center, located near French Creek, is part game preserve, part park and part research center, providing visitors a chance to see wildlife in a natural setting. Buckhannon is the county seat. Established in 1816, the area was not incorporated until 1933. The town was named by the first white settlers for Buck‑on‑go‑hanon, chief of the Delaware Indians during the Border War. This area was a favorite hunting ground for the Delaware.
Webster County ‑ Formed from Nicholas, Braxton and Randolph Counties in 1880 and named in honor of Daniel Webster, New England orator and statesman. The chief industrial and agricultural products are lumber, coal, potatoes, buckwheat, oats, livestock, poultry and honey. Webster Springs is the county seat. The town is actually called Addison and the post office is named Webster Springs. The post office name is a combination of the county name and the various sulphur springs found in the area. The town was incorporated in 1892 and named for Addison McLaughlin, upon whose land the town was laid out. Every Memorial Day weekend, this area hosts the Southeastern United States World Championship Woodchopping Contest during the Webster Springs Woodchopping Festival.
MOUNTAINEER COUNTRY
Barbour County ‑ Named in honor of Philip Pendleton Barbour, distinguished jurist of Virginia, this county was created in 1843 from parts of Randolph, Harrison and Lewis Counties. The chief industries and agricultural products are coal, lumber, buckwheat, dairy farming, livestock, fruit, poultry and grain. The county seat of Philippi was the site of the first land battle of the Civil War on June 3, 1861. Union troops under General B.F. Kelly surprised the Confederate troops of Colonel George A. Porterfield. The Philippi Covered Bridge, originally built in 1852 by Lemuel Chenoweth and destroyed by fire, has been reconstructed to its original form. This twin‑barreled bridge is the longest two‑lane covered bridge still in use on a federal highway (U.S. Route 250).
Doddridge County ‑ Formed from parts of Harrison, Tyler, Ritchie and Lewis Counties in 1845, the county was named for Philip Doddridge, a distinguished statesman of western Virginia. It was the home of J.H. Diss DeBar, who designed the great Seal of the Coat of Arms of West Virginia. The chief agricultural and industrial products are livestock, poultry, lumber, petroleum and natural gas. West Union, the county seat, was incorporated in 1881. The town's name was suggested by Nathan Davis, who owned the land. The town, located across Middle Island Creek from Lewisport, was trying to have its name changed to Union; thus the name West Union.
Harrison County ‑ Created in 1784, this county was formed from Monongalia County and named for Benjamin Harrison, a Virginian who was the father of William Henry Harrison, ninth president of the U.S. and great‑grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, twenty‑third president. The leading industrial and agricultural products are glass, coal, chemicals, petroleum, natural gas, lumber, chinaware, pottery, Italian‑style foods, livestock, hay, grain, poultry and dairy farming. Clarksburg, the county seat, was chartered in 1785 and named for George Rogers Clark a Virginia soldier. Clarksburg is best known as the birthplace of General Thomas J. "Stonewall” Jackson. Every Labor Day weekend the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival celebrates the settling of the area by Italian immigrants. The first Baptist Church (Simpson Creek Baptist Church) west of the Allegheny Mountains was organized in 1774 in Bridgeport. Michael Late Benedum, philanthropist and founder of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, was born in Bridgeport.
Marion County ‑ Created in 1842 from parts of Monongalia and Harrison Counties and named for General Francis Marion, "the Swamp Fox” of the Revolutionary War. The chief agricultural and industrial products are livestock, hay, grain, dairy farming, poultry, coal, glass, petroleum, natural gas, aluminum sheets, mining machinery, fluorescent lamps, plumbing fixtures, electric power, fiberglass, hydraulic pumps and motor parts. The county seat was chartered in 1843 as Fairmont, a contraction of Fair Mountain, the first name considered for the new town. Fairmont was the home of Francis H. Pierpont, governor of the Restored Government of Virginia in 1861 and birthplace of Mary Lou Retton, 1984 U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist in gymnastics. The worst mining disaster in West Virginia history occurred at Monongah in 1907, when 361 men lost their lives.
Monongalia County ‑ Formed in 1776 from the District of Augusta in Virginia, this county was named for the Monongahela River which flows to Pittsburgh. The leading industrial and agricultural products are chemicals, coal, glass, petroleum, lumber, livestock, hay, grain, dairy farming, fruit, vegetables and poultry. Morgantown, the county seat, is home to West Virginia University and the Personal Rapid Transit System, the world's first totally automated transportation system which connects WVU's two campuses with the downtown area. The computer‑directed cars travel over nine miles of concrete guideways. Morgantown was founded in 1766‑1768 by Colonel Zackquill Morgan, son of Morgan Morgan, the first white settler in what is now West Virginia. Morgantown is home to the Mountaineer Balloon Festival, Mountaineer Country Glass Festival and the Mason‑Dixon Festival.
Preston County ‑ This area was formed from Monongalia County in 1818. The name is in honor of James Patton Preston, governor of Virginia, from 1816‑1819. The chief agricultural and industrial products are buckwheat, hay, grain, poultry, maple sugar, coal, lumber and cement. The incorporated area of Arthurdale was built through the federal homestead program of the early 1930s. Eleanor Roosevelt took a special interest in this area and it became known as Eleanor's New Deal Dream Community. Kingwood, the county seat, was established in 1811, though not chartered until 1953. The name comes from the location of a forest of unusually tall trees: forest king.
Taylor County ‑ Created from parts of Harrison, Barbour and Marion Counties in 1844. The name is in honor of Senator John Taylor, distinguished soldier and statesman of Carolina County, Virginia. The leading industrial and agricultural products are coal, lumber, plastics, clothing and Grafton Manufactured Housing, Inc. The only national cemetery in West Virginia is located in Grafton, the county seat. Mother's Day originated in Grafton at Andrews Methodist Church on May 10, 1908 when Anna Jarvis instigated the service in honor of her mother, Anna Reeves. Jarvis was responsible for the proclamation of Mother's Day as a national holiday in 1914 and the church is now known as the International Mother's Day Shrine. Bailey Brown, the first Union soldier killed in the Civil War, died on May 22, 1861 at Fetterman.
NEW RIVER/GREENBRIER VALLEY
Fayette County ‑ Created in 1831 from parts of Greenbrier, Kanawha, Nicholas and Logan Counties and named in honor of the Marquis de La Fayette. Fayette County is considered the heart of the New River area. Offering the best whitewater rafting in the East, the New River has 21 major rapids in one 15‑mile stretch, the most concentrated span of whitewater in the United States. The New River is the oldest stream on the continent and flows north from North Carolina to West Virginia. A large section of the New River Gorge National River is found here and the New River Gorge Bridge is located on US Route 19 at Fayetteville, the county seat. The bridge spans 3,030 feet and towers 876 feet above the New River. Bridge Day in October is unparalleled fun, with hundreds of B.A.S.E. jumpers parachuting from the bridge to the New River. Thurmond, was incorporated in 1903 and named for Captain W. D. Thurmond who owned the land. Once a thriving coal town, it hosted a poker game which went on continually for 14 years and was stopped only because a fire in the saloon forced the players to evacuate. The movie "Matewan" was filmed here. The leading industrial and agricultural products are coal, ferro‑alloys, lumber, livestock and dairy farming.
Greenbrier County ‑ The second largest county in West Virginia was formed from parts of Montgomery and Botetourte Counties in 1778. The principal river in the area, the Greenbrier, gave the county its name. Frankfort, an unincorporated area, was the first permanent settlement in 1769. White Sulphur Springs, incorporated in 1909, was named by the earliest settlers for the sulphur springs found in the area. Now the site of The Greenbrier Hotel, the springs have been a spa since 1778. The hotel was used as a hospital during the Civil War and many presidents and foreign heads of state have been guests. Ownership of the hotel has passed through many hands from Nicholas and Kate Carpenter, the original settlers on Howard's Creek, to Jim Justice, the present owner. In 1942, The Greenbrier was purchased from the C&O Railroad by the U.S. Army for $3,000,000 and turned into Ashford General Hospital where 20,000 soldiers were treated. It opened to the general public as a hotel again in 1948 and has remained a world-renown resort. The Old Stone Church in Lewisburg, the county seat, was the first Presbyterian Church built west of the Allegheny Mountains and has been in continual use since 1786. Lewisburg was originally called Big Levels, Camp Union and Fort Savannah and dates back to 1763. It was chartered in 1782 and named in honor of General Andrew Lewis who led forces against the Indians at Point Pleasant in 1774. Chief agricultural and industrial products are livestock, hay, grain, poultry, fruit, dairying, coal, lumber and road materials.
McDowell County ‑ Created from Tazewell County in 1858 and named for James McDowell, governor of Virginia, from 1843‑1846. This area is known for coal, lumber, livestock, corn and potatoes. Welch, the county seat, was incorporated in 1894 and named for Isaiah A. Welch, captain in the Confederate Army. It is home to the first municipally‑owned and operated parking building in the United States. The first memorial building erected in memory of World War I veterans in the United States was built in Welch; however, the building was destroyed by fire in 1979. The town of War was incorporated in 1920. The name was derived from War Creek which runs through the area and was named by the Indians around 1788 due to a local battle. The town was once known as Miner's City because of the coal fields in the area.
Mercer County ‑ Named in honor of Revolutionary War General Hugh Mercer, this county was created in 1837 from parts of Giles and Tazewell Counties. Leading industrial and agricultural products are coal, lumber, hay, grain, dairying, livestock, poultry and manufacturing. Princeton is located at the southern end of the West Virginia Turnpike (I-77), an 88‑mile, four‑lane toll highway which goes north to Charleston. The turnpike, an engineering achievement of heroic proportions, traverses mountainous terrain that required grades of up to 5% and the movement of 70 million cubic yards of earth. The elevation climbs from 600 feet at Charleston to 3,400 feet at Flat Top Mountain. The Memorial Tunnel, no longer used on the turnpike, was the first in the nation to be monitored by television when it opened in November 1954. Bluefield, in the southern part of the county, was incorporated in 1889 and named for the luxuriant growth in the area of a species of chicory with dark blue flowers which grows in abundance. Also known as "Nature's Air‑Conditioned City,” the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce offers free lemonade on the infrequent days when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees. Bramwell, named for J. H. Bramwell, pioneer in coal development in the area, was settled by the Flat Top Coal Land Association in 1885, and was considered the richest town in the U.S. for its size, with as many as 14 millionaires residing there in the early 20th century. Bramwell’s Bryant and Newbold Pharmacy reportedly was the third drugstore in the United States to carry Chanel Number 5 perfume.
Monroe County ‑ Created in 1799 from Greenbrier County, this county was named for James Monroe, fifth president of the United States. The chief agricultural and industrial products are tobacco, hay, grain, livestock, poultry, dairy farming, lumber and rubber fabricators. The county seat of Union was settled by James Alexander in 1774 and chartered originally in 1799. The town received its name because troops rendezvoused there during the Indian Wars. Alderson, in both Monroe and Greenbrier Counties, was incorporated in 1881 and named for John Alderson, Baptist minister who settled the area in 1777. It is the location of the Federal Correctional Institution for Women.
Raleigh County ‑ Created in 1850 from Fayette County, this area was named in honor of Sir Walter Raleigh, the English adventurer and soldier. The leading agricultural and industrial products are potatoes, poultry, strawberries, cattle, ponies, lumber, coal mining equipment, electronic parts and building blocks. The county seat of Beckley was originally chartered in 1838 and named in honor of John Beckley, the first clerk of the Congress during the administrations of Washington, Adams and Jefferson. The city was incorporated in 1927 and is home to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, the only historically preserved coal mine in West Virginia. The mine was opened to the public after many safety precautions were taken. Portraying actual conditions of low seam coal mining from its beginning to today's technology certified retired coal miners guide visitors through 1,500 feet of underground passages. The mine maintains a year‑round temperature of 58 degrees and was used for interior shots during the filming of the movie "Matewan."
Summers County ‑ Formed in 1871 from parts of Monroe, Mercer, Greenbrier and Fayette Counties and named for George W. Summers, a prominent jurist of Kanawha County. Leading industrial and agricultural products are lumber, livestock, hay and grain. Hinton, the county seat, was created when the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad bought land and laid out the town in 1871. Hinton became a boom town in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the brick streets which were laid in 1905 remain today. The legend of John Henry was born in Summers County. In the early 1870s, the C&O Railroad built the Big Bend Tunnel at Talcott. A mile of hard red shale had to be cleared through Big Bend Mountain by driving steel by hand into the hard rock. Reportedly one in five men was killed as tons of rock crushed them. Legend says John Henry competed against a steam drill in 1873 with a hammer in each hand. Henry won the race but died in his sleep that night, while others claim he was killed later by a rock blast. When a concrete floor was poured in the tunnel in 1932, the hammer and steel, supposedly used by Henry, were found in a dirt fill. They had been thrown there after the contest and John Henry's death because superstition prevented anyone from using the hammer again. The Graham House, in Pence Springs, was built by Colonel James Graham between 1770 and 1772. In the spring of 1777, Shawnee Indians attacked the house killing two people and taking the Colonel's seven-year-old daughter. Graham spent eight years trying to find his daughter, finally rescuing her in what is now Maysville, Kentucky. Graham had the shoes of his horses reversed in order to hamper any pursuit by the Indians after the rescue.
Wyoming County ‑ Formed in 1850 from Logan County and named for the Delaware Indian word meaning "large plains." The chief agricultural and industrial products are livestock, poultry, hay, grain, coal, lumber and natural gas. Oceana was the first county seat, established in 1850. The area was originally settled in 1797 by John Cooke and known as Cassville and later Sumpterville. In 1855, Thomas Dunn persuaded the county court to rename the town in honor of the youngest daughter of Chief Cornstalk, Oceana. In 1907, the county seat was moved to Pineville, so named because it was the location of a black and pitch pine second growth forest.
NORTHERN PANHANDLE
Brooke County ‑ This county was created in 1797 from part of Ohio County and named in honor of Robert Brooke, governor of Virginia from 1794‑1796. The first Episcopal Church (St. John's) west of the Allegheny Mountains was erected in this county in 1793 on the Follansbee‑Eldersville Road. The leading industrial and agricultural products are sheet steel and tin plate, sheet metal, plastic containers, coal, paper bags, tar, chemicals, electric power, glass, dairying and fruit. Wellsburg, the county seat, was once known as "The Marryin' Town." During the 1920s and 30s, an average of 20,000 people a year were wed here because there was no waiting period. Bethany, chartered in 1853 and named for the village of Bethany in Palestine, is noted as the home of Alexander Campbell, founder of the Disciples of Christ Church.
Hancock County ‑ The smallest of West Virginia's 55 counties, Hancock covers 88.58 square miles and was originally chartered in 1848. Created from Brooke County and named for John Hancock, first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Cannon balls used by Commodore Perry at the Battle of Lake Erie were manufactured at the iron foundry of Peter Tarr on King's Creek. The leading agricultural and industrial products are iron, steel, chinaware, pottery, brick and fire clay, sheet metal, tin products, apples, dairying and livestock. The world's largest manufacturer of dinnerware (Fiestaware), Homer Laughlin China Company, is located in Newell at the northern most tip of West Virginia.
Marshall County ‑ Named for John Marshall, United States supreme court chief justice for 34 years. The leading industrial and agricultural products are iron, steel, glass, chemicals, coal, clothing, natural gas, hay, grain, dairy products, fruit, vegetables and sheep. Moundsville, the county seat, was named for the Grave Creek Indian Mound, believed to be the largest in the world. At 69 feet high and 900 feet in circumference, it is home to Grave Creek Mound. The West Virginia State Penitentiary, built in 1866, was located here. After closing in 1995, it is now open for tours.
Ohio County ‑ One of the first counties in Virginia organized west of the Allegheny Mountains was formed in 1776 from the District of West Augusta and given the Indian name for "great river," Ohio. Sheet metal, tin containers, iron, steel, coal, paints, axes, tools, plastic products, stogies, chewing tobacco, meat packing, bakery products, dairy farming, fruit, vegetables, hay, grain and poultry are the main industrial and agricultural products in this county of 109 square miles. Wheeling, the birthplace of West Virginia, is the county seat. Wheeling was settled in 1769 by Ebenezer Zane and his followers, and was incorporated as a town in 1806. The name was derived from the Indian word, "whelan,” which was used for years to designate the creek which bisects the city. The last battle of the American Revolution was fought here at Fort Henry in September 1782. This battle formed the legend of Betty Zane, who braved a storm of gunfire to carry powder from the Zane cabin to the fort. Wheeling was the home of the restored government of Virginia in 1861 and state capital of West Virginia until 1870 and again from 1875 to 1880. Independence Hall has been restored to its pre‑Civil War condition and houses the third floor courtroom where the structure of the new state of West Virginia was developed. The Wheeling Suspension Bridge, built in 1847, was at that time the longest single span bridge in the world. Oglebay, Wheeling's municipal park, is one of the largest resorts in the United States. It is home to the Festival of Lights, one of the East’s best known winter attractions.
Tyler County ‑ Created in 1814 from Ohio County, this area was named for John Tyler, eighth governor of Virginia and father of John Tyler, 10th president of the United States. Glass, chinaware, pottery, petroleum, natural gas, chemicals, dairy farming and poultry are the significant industries in the county. The world's greatest gas well, "Big Moses” was drilled here in 1894 and produces 100,000,000 cubic feet of gas per day. The last commercial ferry boat on the Ohio River was the Sistersville Ferry, where passengers go back in time to when ferry boats were the common mode of travel.
Wetzel County ‑ Created in 1846 from Tyler County, this area was named for Lewis Wetzel, famous frontiersman and Indian fighter. The leading industrial and agricultural products are petroleum, natural gas, glass, marbles, sand, gravel, cathedral glass, livestock, vegetables and fruit. New Martinsville, the county seat, was created in 1838.
POTOMAC HIGHLANDS
Grant County ‑ Named for General Ulysses S. Grant, this area was created from Hardy County in 1866. At the extreme western corner of the county is the Fairfax Stone, set in 1746, which marks the southwestern border of Maryland. The exact spot is marked by the head spring or fountain of the Potomac River. The leading industrial and agricultural products are machinery, printing, polymers, electric power, coal, ladies apparel, lumber, livestock, hay, grain, poultry, fruit and maple sugar. The county seat of Petersburg was named in 1745 for Jacob Peterson, who conducted the first general store in the county. During the 1830s the name was changed to Lunice Creek to avoid confusion with Petersburg near Richmond. It was later changed back.
Hampshire County ‑ The oldest county in West Virginia was created in 1754 from parts of Frederick and Augusta Counties and named for the English Shire of the same name. The chief industrial and agricultural products are lumber, wood creosoting, sheep, fruit, hay, grain and livestock. Pliska Winery, part of West Virginia's growing wine industry, is located in Purgitsville. Romney, the county seat, was chartered in 1762 by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Fort Pearsoll was built here in 1756 for Indian defense. The West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind was established in Romney in 1870. Cacapon Bridge was incorporated in 1902 and named for the construction of the bridge over the Cacapon River. Cacapon was derived from the Shawnee Indian name Cape‑cape‑de‑hon, meaning "river of medicine water."
Hardy County ‑ Named for the distinguished Virginian, Samuel Hardy, in 1786. The leading agricultural and industrial products are hay, grain, livestock, dairy farming, poultry processing, lumber and cabinet manufacturing. Moorefield, the poultry capital of West Virginia, is the county seat. This area is known for their Heritage Weekend in late September when colonial era farmhouses, churches and Victorian country homes are opened to the public. Near Wardensville, the Lost River disappears under Sandy Ridge and reappears over four miles away at the headwaters of the Cacapon River. Lost River State Park includes Lee Sulphur Springs, a 19th century resort owned by the family of General Robert E. Lee. A museum is housed in the cabin originally built by Lee's father, General "Light Horse" Harry Lee of the Revolutionary War.
Mineral County ‑ Created in 1866 from Hampshire County, this area was named because of the mineral deposits found here. The county was an active battleground during the Indian wars. Fort Ashby, built in 1755, is the only fort remaining that Governor Dinwiddie directed to be built for frontier protection. Named for its commander, Captain John Ashby, it is located on the south bank of Patterson's Creek. Nancy Hanks, mother of Abraham Lincoln, was born on the eastern slope of Saddle Mountain where her family settled in the early 1780s. The chief agricultural and industrial products are fruit, hay, grain, livestock, dairy farming, buckwheat, maple sugar, coal, glass and lumber. Waffle Rock, a 300-million-year-old rock formation, overlooks Jennings Randolph Lake on the North Branch of the Potomac River. The lake offers fishing, boating and swimming opportunities.
Pendleton County ‑ Created from parts of Augusta, Hardy and Rockingham Counties in 1788, this area was named in honor of Edmund Pendleton, a Virginia statesman and jurist. Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia, is located here at an elevation of 4,861 feet. Seneca Rocks, part of the Monongahela National Forest, offers excellent rock climbing opportunities. Two Indian massacres occurred in 1758 at Fort Upper Tract and Fort Seybert when the Indians were led by the Shawnee Chieftain Kilbuck. Franklin, the county seat, is home to the Treasure Mountain Festival. The fair incorporates the 200-year legend of buried treasure being hidden in the nearby hills.
Pocahontas County ‑ Named for the Indian princess Pocahontas, this area was created from Bath, Pendleton and Randolph Counties in 1821. Known as the "birthplace of rivers," eight rivers have their source in this county‑‑Cherry, Cranberry, Elk, Gauley, Greenbrier, Shavers Fork of the Cheat, Tygart Valley and Williams. The most extensive Civil War conflict in the state was on November 6, 1863 at Droop Mountain. Confederate General John Echol was overpowered by Union forces under General John Averell and Confederate power was broken in the Greenbrier Valley. The battlefield was acquired by the state in 1929 and is now a state park. The county is known for the recreational opportunities available from alpine and nordic skiing to trout fishing to mountain biking. Leading industrial and agricultural products are lumber tannery, livestock, potatoes, oats, maple sugar, honey and poultry. The county seat of Marlinton was named in honor of one of the first settlers to spend a winter in the county, Jacob Marlin. The Cass Scenic Railroad State Park was once a thriving lumber town. Geared steam locomotives, especially designed to haul timber out of rough terrain, will take you to the top of Bald Knob, the second highest point in the state. Pearl S. Buck, the only American woman to win both the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize for literature, was born at her grandparents' home at Hillsboro in 1892. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is located in Green Bank and is the site of the largest radio satellite telescope in the world.
Randolph County ‑ The largest of West Virginia's 55 counties with 1,046.34 square miles was formed in 1787. The area was named for Edmund Jennings Randolph, Virginia governor from 1786‑1788. The first Indian massacre in what is now West Virginia occurred in this county. The first 4‑H camp in the world was held here. Chief agricultural and industrial products are potatoes, hay, grain, livestock, dairy farming, lumber, coal, furniture, clothing and shoes. The county seat of Elkins was incorporated in 1890 and named for Stephen B. Elkins, United States senator from West Virginia in 1895‑1911. The city is the headquarters of the Monongahela National Forest. The heritage and traditions of the area are revived every summer during the Augusta Heritage Workshop Festival held on the campus of Davis and Elkins College. West Virginia's oldest festival, Mountain State Forest Festival, is held the first week of October in Elkins. In 1869, a group of Swiss and German immigrants from Berne, Switzerland settled in the area of the county where the mountains reminded them of home. They named their town Helvetia and their traditions and customs are carried out today by the current residents.
Tucker County ‑ Named for Henry St. George Tucker, a Virginia jurist and statesman. Leading industrial and agricultural products are charcoal, coal, lumber, potatoes, maple sugar, buckwheat and livestock. Canaan Valley Resort State Park was West Virginia's first ski resort, opening in 1971. Located in Davis, Canaan is a four‑season resort offering a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities and nature programs. Davis is the highest municipality in the state at an elevation of 3,101 feet. Incorporated in 1889 and named for the family of Henry Gassaway Davis, United States senator from West Virginia, the town is also home to Blackwater Falls State Park and the five‑story falls of the Blackwater River. The first officer to die during the Civil War (Confederate General Robert S. Garnett) was killed on July 3, 1861 at Corrick's Ford Battlefield near Parsons.