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49-569: Parkersburg is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, West Virginia , United States. Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's fourth-most populous city and the center of the Parkersburg–Vienna metropolitan area . The city's population was 29,749 at the 2020 census , and its metro population was 89,490. The city is about 14 miles (23 km) south of Marietta, Ohio . Settlers at first named

98-531: A Superior Court and Sheriff (as an officer of the court ), both located in a designated "shire town". Bennington County, Vermont has two shire towns; the court for "North Shire" is in the shire town Manchester , and the Sheriff for the county and court for "South Shire" are in the shire town Bennington. In 2024, Connecticut , which had not defined their counties for anything but statistical, historical and weather warning purposes since 1960, along with ending

147-1040: A BBQ and beer festival held in September. It is co-hosted by Downtown PKB and the Parkersburg Area Jaycees and was started in 2014. Several museums are located in Parkersburg, including the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History, the Henry Cooper House , the Oil and Gas Museum, the Sumnerite African-American History Museum , the Artcraft Studio and the Veterans Museum of Mid-Ohio Valley. There are several parks in

196-410: A county seat may be an independent city surrounded by, but not part of, the county of which it is the administrative center; for example, Fairfax City is both the county seat of Fairfax County, Virginia and completely surrounded by Fairfax County, but the city is politically independent of the county. When the county seat is in the independent city, government offices such as the courthouse may be in

245-556: A day Monday through Friday from Charlotte Douglas International Airport . Passenger rail was available into the 1960s, with several major long distance trains making stops in Parkersburg. These included the Baltimore and Ohio 's National Limited to St. Louis to the west and Washington, D.C. , Baltimore and Jersey City to the east. From 1976 to 1981 Amtrak operated the Shenandoah (Amtrak train) , serving Cincinnati to

294-491: A transportation and medical center for Union forces during the American Civil War . It developed further as a transportation hub in the gas and oil boom following that war. In the late 19th century, Parkersburg emerged as a major oil refining center serving nearby oilfields at Volcano and Burning Springs. The Camden Consolidated Oil Company, founded in 1866 by future U.S. Senator Johnson Newlon Camden , dominated

343-410: A two-story residence, with most coming in the years 1875–1899. The third floor and the north wing as well as the turrets and spires were all added through the years. Additionally, the entrance, which originally faced Murdoch Avenue to the west, was reversed to face Ann St, as it currently does. The Peter G. Van Winkle House at 600-602 Juliana Street was demolished in 1994. This article about

392-484: Is a national historic district located at Parkersburg , Wood County, West Virginia . It is to the west of the Avery Street Historic District . It encompasses all houses on Ann and Juliana Streets from Riverview Cemetery to 9th Street. There are 116 contributing buildings and one contributing site. The majority of the houses were constructed between 1875 and 1915. The district was added to

441-452: Is an international festival featuring traditional dance and music and an international marketplace. The Parkersburg Homecoming Festival is held in August and features a parade, fireworks, half-marathon, competitions and entertainment. The Taste of Parkersburg is an event held around Memorial Day each year since 2006 which features food and drinks from local vendors. The Downtown Throwdown is

490-409: Is known as the seat of its county. Generally, the county legislature, county courthouse, sheriff's department headquarters, hall of records, jail and correctional facility are located in the county seat, though some functions (such as highway maintenance, which usually requires a large garage for vehicles, along with asphalt and salt storage facilities) may also be located or conducted in other parts of

539-455: Is the college radio station of West Virginia University at Parkersburg. WTAP , the local NBC affiliate, is the main local television station. WIYE-LD (CBS) and WOVA-LD (Fox / CW+) are sister stations. Parkersburg is served by two major highways, Interstate 77 and US 50 . Other routes through the city include WV routes 2 , 14 , 47 , 68 , 95 and 618 . Parkersburg is served by Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport , with three flights

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588-629: The National Register of Historic Places in 1977, with architecture styles being listed as late Victorian architecture and Colonial Revival architecture . Many notable examples of Queen Anne architecture can be seen in the neighborhood as well. Among the notable dwellings is the Van Winkle-Wix House. It was built in 1836 by Peter Van Winkle in what was at the time a portion of western Virginia . The building has undergone many changes since being initially constructed as

637-1019: The Parkersburg Catholic High School Crusaders. The Wood County Technical Center and the Caperton Center for Applied Technology is part of Wood County Public Schools. There were, as of May 2020, five middle schools and 16 elementary schools dispersed throughout the city. The Parkersburg News and Parkersburg Sentinel were the city's two major daily newspapers until they combined in 2009 to form one daily edition: The Parkersburg News and Sentinel . The same company also publishes The Marietta Times and Graffiti , West Virginia's alternative news magazine. There are many radio stations broadcasting from Parkersburg, including 106.1 Z106 (WRZZ),102.1 The River (WRVB), U.S. 107 WNUS, MIX 100 (WDMX), V96.9 (WVVV), WXIL, Froggy 99.1, 103.1 The Bear, and WPKM 96.3 FM "the Beat" which

686-515: The census of 2020, there were 29,749 people, 13,119 households, and 7,305 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,524 inhabitants per square mile (1,029/km2). There were 15,246 housing units at an average density of 1,317 per square mile (508/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.8% White , 1.9% African American , 0.1% Native American , 0.9% Asian , 0.3% Pacific Islander , 0.3% from other races , and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of

735-578: The DuPont/Chemours Washington Works chemical company have been noted in Parkersburg drinking water. Despite a 2004 class-action legal settlement obligating DuPont to install a drinking water filtration plant if asked, local water district officials have not, as of 2016, asked for one. Parkersburg is the home of the Parkersburg High School Big Reds, Parkersburg South High School Patriots, and

784-799: The Public Debt , an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department , was moved to Parkersburg in 1954 as a location midway between Chicago and Washington, D.C. that would be safe in the event of a national emergency. In October 2012, the Bureau of the Public Debt consolidated with the Financial Management Service to form the Bureau of the Fiscal Service . According to the United States Census Bureau ,

833-947: The United States, followed by Towson , the county seat of Baltimore County, Maryland . Likewise, some county seats may not be incorporated in their own right, but are located within incorporated municipalities. For example, Cape May Court House, New Jersey , though unincorporated, is a section of Middle Township , an incorporated municipality. In some states, often those that were among the original Thirteen Colonies , county seats include or formerly included "Court House" as part of their name, such as Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia . Most counties have only one county seat. However, some counties in Alabama , Arkansas , Georgia , Iowa , Kentucky , Massachusetts , Mississippi , Missouri , New Hampshire , New York , and Vermont have two or more county seats, usually located on opposite sides of

882-501: The area, including Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park , Bicentennial Park, Corning Park, Point Park, Southwood Park, Quincy Park, City Park, Johnson T. Janes Park, Friendship Park, Fort Boreman Historical Park , Mountwood Park and Fries Park . The Wood County Ravens, a semi-professional football team, was based in the city. The Ravens were a part of the now defunct Mountain State Football League. Parkersburg

931-401: The average family size was 2.83. In the city the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males. The median income for a household in the city

980-509: The city Newport when they settled it in the late 18th century following the American Revolutionary War . A town section was laid out on land granted to Alexander Parker for his Revolutionary War service. Virginia made grants of land to veterans for their war service. The title conflicts between Parker and the city planners of Newport were settled in 1809 in favor of his heirs. The town was renamed Parkersburg in 1810. It

1029-550: The city has a total area of 12.35 square miles (31.99 km), of which 11.82 square miles (30.61 km) is land and 0.53 square miles (1.37 km) is water. The city is situated at the confluence of the Little Kanawha and Ohio rivers. The Little Kanawha River divides the north and south sides of the city. Worthington Creek , a tributary of the Little Kanawha River, flows through the eastern part of

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1078-579: The city. The North End of the city includes the Beechwood, Downtown, Fairview Heights, Granada Hills, Julia-Ann Square , Meadowcrest, Oakwood Estates, Quincy Hill, Riverside, Woodland Park, North End, Worthington, and East End neighborhoods. The southern part of the City of Parkersburg, South Parkersburg was a separate city until it became part of Parkersburg in 1950. Suburban parts of southern Wood County include Blennerhassett , Lubeck , and Washington to

1127-523: The city. In 2012 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 0.5% to 31,261. The population density was 2,800.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,081.3/km). There were 16,100 housing units at an average density of 1,362.2 per square mile (525.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White , 1.8% African American , 0.4% Native American , 0.2% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.2% from other races , and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of

1176-420: The city. The population density was 2,664 inhabitants per square mile (1,028.6/km). There were 15,562 housing units at an average density of 1,317 per square mile (508.5/km). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White , 2.0% African American , 0.3% Native American , 0.4% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.3% from other races , and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of

1225-526: The counties after his unification, there were about 1,000. Under the Eastern Han dynasty , the number of counties increased to above 1,000. About 1400 existed when the Sui dynasty abolished the commandery level (郡 jùn), which was the level just above counties, and demoted some commanderies to counties. In Imperial China, the county was a significant administrative unit because it marked the lowest level of

1274-418: The county, especially if it is geographically large. A county seat is usually an incorporated municipality . The exceptions include the county seats of counties that have no incorporated municipalities within their borders, such as Arlington County, Virginia , where the county seat is the entire county. Ellicott City , the county seat of Howard County, Maryland , is the largest unincorporated county seat in

1323-420: The county. Examples include Harrison County, Mississippi , which has both Biloxi and Gulfport as county seats, and Hinds County, Mississippi , which has both Raymond and the state capital of Jackson . The practice of multiple county seat towns dates from the days when travel was difficult. There have been few efforts to eliminate the two-seat arrangement, since a county seat is a source of civic pride for

1372-621: The east–west lines along the Ohio River, had to take a steamboat 14 miles north to Marietta, Ohio . Jacob Linville designed the railroad bridge planned by the B&;O. It was constructed in 1868–1870 between Parkersburg and Belpre, Ohio , as part of the B&O's main line from Baltimore to St. Louis, Missouri . This drew traffic and trade from Marietta. Today the structure is known as the Parkersburg Bridge . Parkersburg served as

1421-424: The imperial bureaucratic structure; in other words, it was the lowest level that the government reached. Government below the county level was often undertaken through informal non-bureaucratic means, varying between dynasties. The head of a county was the magistrate , who oversaw both the day-to-day operations of the county as well as civil and criminal cases. The current number of counties mostly resembled that of

1470-585: The increase of Han Chinese population in Taiwan, the number of counties also grew by time. By the end of Qing era, there were 11 counties in Taiwan. Protestant missionaries in China first romanized the term as hien . When Taiwan became a Japanese colony in 1895, the hierarchy of divisions also incorporated into the Japanese system in the period when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. By September 1945, Taiwan

1519-625: The independent city under an agreement, such as in Albemarle , or may in be enclaves of the county surrounded by the independent city, such as in Fairfax . Others, such as Prince William , have the courthouse in an enclave surrounded by the independent city and have the county government, the Board of Supervisors, in a different part of the county, far from the county seat. The following counties have their county seat in an independent city: Bedford

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1568-758: The later years of the Qing dynasty . Changes of location and names of counties in Chinese history have been a major field of research in Chinese historical geography, especially from the 1960s to the 1980s. There are 1,355 counties in Mainland China out of a total of 2,851 county-level divisions. In Taiwan , the first counties were first established in 1661 by the Kingdom of Tungning . The later ruler Qing empire inherited this type of administrative divisions. With

1617-441: The population. There were 13,119 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.5% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.3% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

1666-442: The population. There were 13,807 households, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.4% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

1715-408: The population. There were 14,467 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and

1764-775: The provincial level, and thus county seats. In the provinces of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia the term "shire town" is used in place of county seat. County seats in China are the administrative centers of the counties in the People's Republic of China . Xian have existed since the Warring States period and were set up nationwide by the Qin dynasty . The number of counties in China proper gradually increased from dynasty to dynasty. As Qin Shi Huang reorganized

1813-555: The refining business and was sold to Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company in 1875. Camden became a Standard director and vice president and, along with John W. Davis, dominated West Virginia politics until the early 20th century. In the post-World War II period, Parkersburg became one of the leading industrial centers of the Ohio Valley, producing chemicals, glass, O. Ames tools, textiles (especially American Viscose Company rayon), plastics and polymers, iron, and steel. The Bureau of

1862-483: The southwest, with Mineral Wells located to the southeast. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers, cold winters and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Parkersburg is in transition between a humid continental climate , abbreviated Dfa on climate maps, and humid subtropical (Cfa). As of

1911-777: The state's area, has no borough government or borough seat. One borough, the Lake and Peninsula Borough , has its borough seat located in another borough, namely King Salmon in Bristol Bay Borough . In Louisiana , which is divided into parishes rather than counties, county seats are referred to as "parish seats". In New England , counties have served mainly as dividing lines for the states' judicial systems. Rhode Island has no county level of government and thus no county seats, and Massachusetts has dissolved many but not all of its county governments. In Vermont , Massachusetts , and Maine county government consists only of

1960-416: The towns involved, along with providing employment opportunities. There are 33 counties with multiple county seats in 11 states: Alaska is divided into boroughs rather than counties; the county seat in these case is referred to as the "borough seat"; this includes six consolidated city-borough governments (one of which is styled as a "municipality"). The Unorganized Borough, Alaska , which covers 49% of

2009-544: The use of county seats in particular, will fully transition with the permission of the United States Census Bureau to a system of councils of government for the purposes of boundary definition and as county equivalents. Two counties in South Dakota , Oglala Lakota and Todd , have their county seat and government services centered in a neighboring county. Their county-level services are provided by Fall River County and Tripp County , respectively. In Virginia ,

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2058-514: The west and Washington, D.C., to the east. Freight rail service is provided by CSX , with local industries switched by Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad and Little Kanawha River Rail . The West Virginia Encyclopedia . The WV Humanities Council. June 20, 2006. ISBN   9780977849802 . County seat In Canada , the provinces of Ontario , Quebec , New Brunswick , Prince Edward Island , and Nova Scotia have counties as an administrative division of government below

2107-461: Was $ 21,120, and the median income for a family was $ 29,731. Males had a median income of $ 28,320 versus $ 18,203 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,820. About 23.3% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 35.2% of those under the age of 18 and 12.5% of those 65 and older. The Annual Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival is held in June, and

2156-436: Was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age in the city was 42 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 21.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female. As of the census of 2010, there were 31,492 people, 13,807 households, and 8,086 families residing in

2205-435: Was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in

2254-407: Was an independent city from 1968 to 2013, while also being the county seat of Bedford County . Bedford reverted to an incorporated town, and remains the county seat, though is now part of the county. The state with the most counties is Texas, with 254, and the state with the fewest counties is Delaware, with 3. Julia-Ann Square Historic District The Julia-Ann Square Historic District ,

2303-702: Was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1820. It was rechartered as a city in 1860. The town was the western terminus of both the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike and the Northwestern Turnpike . In 1857 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built a branch line south to the town from Wheeling, West Virginia . Travelers wanting to connect with the Ohio Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad , one of

2352-635: Was divided into 8 prefectures ( 州 and 廳 ), which remained after the Republic of China took over. There are 13 county seats in Taiwan, which function as county-administered cities , urban townships , or rural townships . In most of the United States , a county is an administrative or political subdivision of a state that consists of a geographic area with specific boundaries and usually some level of governmental authority. The city, town, or populated place that houses county government

2401-627: Was home to the Ohio Valley Redcoats , a minor league baseball team, from 1993 through 1998. The city negotiated to bring professional baseball back to Parkersburg but they fell through because of lack of support from the community. In 2008, the city and its three high schools placed second in ESPN 's TitleTown USA competition. By 2008, the city's high school athletic programs had amassed 192 overall state championships. High levels of PFOA , also known as C8, originating in landfills used by

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