Wetzel County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,442. Its county seat is New Martinsville. The county, founded in 1846, is named for Lewis Wetzel, a famous frontiersman and Indian fighter. Its northern border aligns with the Mason-Dixon line, but is to the west of the line's western terminus.

History

Wetzel County was formed in 1846 from part of Tyler County, Virginia. On June 20, 1863, at the height of the Civil War, Wetzel was one of fifty Virginia counties admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia.

Later that year, 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. Wetzel County was divided into six districts: Center, Church, Grant, Green, Magnolia, and Proctor. A seventh district, Clay, was formed in the 1880s. New Martinsville, the county seat, was in Magnolia District. Except for minor adjustments, the seven historic magisterial districts remained largely unchanged for a century, until the 1980s, when they were consolidated into three new districts: District 1, District 2, and District 3.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

  • Marshall County (north)
  • Greene County, Pennsylvania (northeast)
  • Monongalia County (east)
  • Marion County (east)
  • Harrison County (southeast)
  • Doddridge County (south)
  • Tyler County (southwest)
  • Monroe County, Ohio (west)

National protected area

  • Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

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Local lore

In the mid-to-late 19th century a band similar to the James Gang of legend existed that was known as the Jennings Gang. A number of robberies and murders were accounted to this gang. They were known to be located near the head of Doolin Run near Tarpan Ridge. The home they occupied was found to have an escape tunnel that had been used to escape capture on several occasions. A local group of citizens known as the "Redmen" ultimately cornered the gang at this home and a number of the members were killed. A detailed description exists in the Wetzel County History written approximately in 1900.

The oldest oil well location known is of one drilled on Long Run near Doolin Run which reached oil at a depth about 360&nbsp;ft.

Wetzel County has a long history in the Oil and Gas producing industry. During the Oil boom of the 19th century it is reported that the Proctor Creek watershed had 12 saloons and numerous livery/hotels to accommodate the hundreds of logging and oil field workers.

Communities

Cities

  • New Martinsville (county seat)
  • Paden City (part)

Towns

  • Hundred
  • Pine Grove
  • Smithfield

Magisterial districts

Current

  • District 1
  • District 2
  • District 3

Historic

  • Center
  • Church
  • Clay
  • Grant
  • Green
  • Magnolia
  • Proctor

Census-designated places

  • Jacksonburg
  • Littleton
  • Reader

Unincorporated communities

  • Bebee
  • Big Run
  • Burton
  • Coburn
  • Earnshaw
  • Folsom
  • Hastings
  • Knob Fork
  • Maud
  • Porters Falls
  • Proctor
  • Rockport
  • Silver Hill
  • Wheat
  • Wileyville

See also

  • Wetzel County Schools
  • Cecil H. Underwood Wildlife Management Area
  • Harker Run
  • Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Area
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Wetzel County, West Virginia

Footnotes

References