Lewis County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,033. Its county seat is Weston. The county was formed in 1816 from Harrison County and named for Col. Charles Lewis (1733–1774), a Virginian killed in the Battle of Point Pleasant.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.2%) is water.
In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts. Lewis County was initially divided into five townships: Battelle, Jane Lew, Lincoln, Sheridan, and Willey. Between 1870 and '80, these were renamed "Collins Settlement", "Court House", "Freemans Creek", "Hackers Creek", and "Skin Creek". In the 1990s, Collins Settlement and Court House Districts were consolidated into one district, known as "Courthouse-Collins Settlement"; Hackers Creek and Skin Creek were also consolidated, forming "Hackers Creek-Skin Creek".
Major highways
- 20px Interstate 79
- 20px U.S. Highway 19
- 20px U.S. Highway 48
- 20px 23px U.S. Highway 33/119
- 20px West Virginia Route 4
Adjacent counties
- Harrison County (north)
- Upshur County (east)
- Webster County (south)
- Braxton County (southwest)
- Gilmer County (west)
- Doddridge County (northwest)