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Harrison County, West Virginia

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Harrison County, West Virginia
County
Harrison County Courthouse
Harrison County Courthouse
Official seal of Harrison County, West Virginia
Seal
Map of West Virginia highlighting Harrison County
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
Coordinates: 39°17′N 80°23′W / 39.29°N 80.38°W / 39.29; -80.38
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedJuly 20, 1784
Named afterBenjamin Harrison V
SeatClarksburg
Largest cityClarksburg
Government
 • County Commission PresidentSusan J. Thomas[1]
 • County AdministratorLaura Pysz[2]
Area
 • Total
417 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Land416 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Water0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
65,921
 • Estimate 
(2025)
64,221 Decrease
 • Density158/sq mi (61.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiteharrisoncountywv.gov

Harrison County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,921, making it West Virginia's 7th most populous county.[3][4] Its county seat is Clarksburg.[5] Harrison County is part of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

[edit]

Prehistory and early settlement

[edit]

Evidence of prehistoric Indigenous occupation survives in Harrison County at the Oak Mounds, two burial mounds near Clarksburg.[6]

European-American settlement began in the 18th century. Trapper John Simpson settled along the West Fork River in 1764.[7] During the conflicts on the western Virginia frontier in the early 1770s, settlers constructed forts along the region's rivers. Nutter's Fort was built on Elk Creek in 1772. In 1773, Daniel Davisson claimed land near the confluence of Elk Creek and the West Fork River where Clarksburg later developed. By 1780, settlers there had built their adjoining houses in a defensive arrangement.[8]

Settlement also developed along Simpson Creek in what became Bridgeport. The area was settled between 1771 and 1774, where settlers constructed a fort and established Simpson Creek Baptist Church.[9]

Formation and early development

[edit]

By the end of the American Revolutionary War, settlement along the West Fork River had increased sufficiently for the Virginia General Assembly to create Harrison County from part of Monongalia County in 1784. The county was named for Benjamin Harrison V, who served as governor of Virginia from 1781 to 1784.[8]

The first meeting of the Harrison County court was held on July 20, 1784, at the home of George Jackson.[10] Clarksburg became the county seat and was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1785.[6]

Clarksburg developed as a center of government, law and education for northwestern Virginia. The Virginia General Assembly established Randolph Academy there in 1787, and a federal judicial district was established at Clarksburg in 1819.[8]

Agriculture was an important part of the county's early economy. By the mid-19th century, Harrison County was known for cattle production. The opening of the Northwestern Turnpike in 1838 allowed cattle collected at Clarksburg to be driven east to Baltimore. The arrival of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the 1850s improved access to eastern markets, and by 1863 Harrison County led the new state of West Virginia in beef cattle production.[8]

Civil War and statehood

[edit]

Transportation links made Harrison County strategically important during the American Civil War. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad made Clarksburg an important Union supply base. Clarksburg was also the site of an 1861 rally associated with the movement that led to the creation of West Virginia.[6]

Political and military loyalties within the county were divided. In the Bridgeport area, residents supported both the Union and Confederacy. During the Jones–Imboden Raid, Confederate forces under General William E. Jones captured a company of Union soldiers near Bridgeport on April 30, 1863, and destroyed railroad infrastructure in the area.[9]

West Virginia entered the Union as the 35th state on June 20, 1863, and Harrison County became part of the new state.[11]

Industrialization and population growth

[edit]

The county's economy changed rapidly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A Virginia geological report had noted Harrison County's coal deposits as early as 1836, and by 1903 the county ranked fourth in West Virginia in coal production. Oil development also expanded around Salem and Shinnston around the turn of the 20th century.[8]

Coal, petroleum and natural gas supported the growth of manufacturing. Natural gas supplied glass factories that produced window glass, containers, tableware and marbles. The county also had steel and zinc operations. The National Carbon Company opened a graphite plant at Anmoore in 1904.[8] In Bridgeport, the Bridgeport Lamp Chimney Company was organized in 1904 and by 1923 was producing 24,000 lamp chimneys per day. The property later became the home of the Master Glass Company, a marble manufacturer that operated there until 1973.[9]

Industrial development brought substantial population growth. Coal companies recruited workers from Italy, while other workers moved into Harrison County from elsewhere in West Virginia. The county's population increased from 27,690 in 1900 to 74,783 in 1920.[8] Agriculture remained important as well. In 1923, Lost Creek was the largest cattle shipping point on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad system.[8]

20th century

[edit]

Harrison County's population reached a peak of 85,296 in 1950.[8] That year, a Veterans Administration medical center opened near Clarksburg.[8]

Health care also became a major regional institution. St. Mary's Hospital and Union Protestant Hospital in Clarksburg merged in 1970 to form United Hospital Center. Construction of a consolidated hospital began in 1974, and patients were transferred from the former St. Mary's facility to the new hospital complex in December 1976.[12]

Transportation development again altered growth patterns during the second half of the century. The construction of Interstate 79 and the four-lane portion of U.S. Route 50 through the region strengthened the Clarksburg-Bridgeport area as a transportation and commercial center.[8]

Federal investment became an important part of the county's economy during the 1990s. In January 1991, the Federal Bureau of Investigation purchased 986 acres near Clarksburg for a new complex for its Criminal Justice Information Services Division. Construction began in October 1991 and was completed in July 1995.[13]

21st century

[edit]

Development in the Clarksburg-Bridgeport area continued along the Interstate 79 corridor in the 21st century. A new United Hospital Center opened in Bridgeport in 2010, and health care became one of the city's major economic sectors. Aerospace companies also established operations at North Central West Virginia Airport, including Pratt & Whitney and Aurora Flight Sciences.[9]

The FBI's presence in the county also expanded. In 2015, a 360,000-square-foot Biometric Technology Center opened on the Criminal Justice Information Services campus.[14]

Harrison County's population has declined from its mid-20th-century peak. The county had 65,921 residents in the 2020 census, compared with 85,296 in 1950.[8]

Geography

[edit]

Harrison County is located in north-central West Virginia. The county is characterized by rolling hills drained by the West Fork River and its tributaries.[15] The United States Census Bureau's 2020 Gazetteer lists 416.008 sq mi (1,077.46 km2) of land and 0.509 sq mi (1.32 km2) of water in the county.[16]

The West Fork River passes through Harrison County and continues north toward Fairmont, where it joins the Tygart Valley River to form the Monongahela River. Its tributaries include Tenmile Creek, Elk Creek, and Simpson Creek.[17]

Cities

[edit]

Towns

[edit]

Census-designated places

[edit]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17902,080—
18004,848133.1%
18109,958105.4%
182010,9329.8%
183014,72234.7%
184017,66920.0%
185011,728−33.6%
186013,79017.6%
187016,71421.2%
188020,18120.7%
189021,9198.6%
190027,69026.3%
191048,38174.7%
192074,79354.6%
193078,5675.0%
194082,9115.5%
195085,2962.9%
196077,856−8.7%
197073,028−6.2%
198077,7106.4%
199069,371−10.7%
200068,652−1.0%
201069,0990.7%
202065,921−4.6%
2025 (est.)64,221[18] Decrease−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
1790–1960[20] 1900–1990[21]
2010–2020[22]

2020 census

[edit]

At the 2020 census, Harrison County had a population of 65,921, compared with 69,099 in 2010. The population density was 158.5 people per square mile.[18]

There were 27,358 households and 30,480 housing units. Of the housing units, 10.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.9% were owner-occupied and 27.1% were renter-occupied.[23]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.6% some other race, and 5.2% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 2.1% of the population.[24]

Economy

[edit]

The Clarksburg–Bridgeport area is the principal commercial and employment center of Harrison County. The intersection of Interstate 79 and U.S. Route 50 helped reestablish the area as a regional economic and distribution center during the late 20th century. Health care, aerospace, and government are important parts of the economy in the area.[8][9]

Health care facilities include United Hospital Center in Bridgeport and the Louis A. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center in Clarksburg. United Hospital Center is part of the WVU Medicine system and operates a hospital with more than 300 beds.[25] The Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center provides primary and specialty care from its campus in Clarksburg.[26]

The federal government also has a substantial presence in the county through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The main facility of the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division is located in Clarksburg.[27] The campus also contains the 360,000-square-foot Biometric Technology Center, which opened in 2015.[28]

Aerospace maintenance and manufacturing are concentrated around North Central West Virginia Airport in Bridgeport. Companies with facilities in the area include MHI RJ Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, and Aurora Flight Sciences.[9] MHI RJ Aviation operates a regional-aircraft maintenance center in Bridgeport.[29] Pratt & Whitney operates an aircraft-engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility there,[30] while Aurora Flight Sciences operates an advanced manufacturing facility that produces aerospace components and subassemblies.[31]

Manufacturing also includes Amsted Graphite Materials in Anmoore, where carbon and graphite products have been manufactured since the early 20th century.[8] Amsted operates its headquarters and manufacturing facility on Philippi Pike in Anmoore.[32]

Commercial and office development along the Interstate 79 corridor in Bridgeport includes Charles Pointe and the White Oaks business park.[9]

Arts and culture

[edit]

Annual cultural events

[edit]
  • The West Virginia Black Heritage Festival is held annually in Clarksburg and includes cultural programs, entertainment, community activities, and events related to African American heritage.[34]
  • Jesus Fest is an annual Christian music and ministry festival held at Jackson Square in downtown Clarksburg. The event includes live music, worship services, baptisms, children's activities, and food vendors.[35]
  • The Salem Apple Butter Festival has been held in Salem since 1984. The festival includes traditional apple butter making in copper kettles over wood fires, a parade, crafts, entertainment, and competitions.[36]
  • Shinnston hosts the Shindy Music Festival at Ferguson Memorial Park. The festival features musicians from West Virginia and local vendors.[37]
  • The Stonewood Firefighter's Festival is held annually in Stonewood. Established in 2023, the three-day festival includes live entertainment, the 5 Alarm 5K, the Harry Lynch Chili Cook-off, pageants, and activities related to local first responders.[38]
  • The Old Mill & Float the Fork Festival is held at Island Park in West Milford. The Old Mill Festival and Float the Fork both began in 2018 and were combined into a single event in 2023. The festival includes a float on the West Fork River, live music, food, vendors, and activities related to the history of West Milford and the river.[39]
  • The annual Family Fun Extravaganza is held at Clarksburg City Park in Nutter Fort. The multi-day festival includes carnival rides, live entertainment, vendors, children's activities, and a parade.[40]

Historic sites and landmarks

[edit]

Historic sites and districts in Harrison County include properties associated with the county's settlement, transportation, industry, education, and architecture. Many are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[41]

Museums and historical organizations

[edit]
  • The Clarksburg History Museum opened in 2018 and maintains exhibits and collections relating to the history of Clarksburg and Harrison County.[43]
  • The Bice-Ferguson Memorial Museum in Shinnston preserves and displays artifacts relating to the history of Shinnston and the surrounding area. The museum is owned and operated by the city's Board of Museums.[44]
  • The Harrison County West Virginia Historical Society is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization established in 1965. It maintains museum and archival collections of historical artifacts, documents, photographs, maps, and other materials relating to Harrison County, and owns the Stealey–Goff–Vance House in downtown Clarksburg.[45]

Sports

[edit]

Baseball and basketball

[edit]

Professional baseball was played in Clarksburg intermittently from 1907 through 1932. Clarksburg teams competed in several minor leagues, including the Western Pennsylvania League, Pennsylvania–West Virginia League, West Virginia League, and Middle Atlantic League.[46] The city's teams used several names, including the Bees, Drummers, Cyrians, Ghosts, and Clarksburg Generals. The Generals played in the Class C Middle Atlantic League from 1926 through 1932 and reached the league championship series in 1930.[citation needed]

Semi-professional baseball continued in the Clarksburg area after the minor-league era. Teams included the Muntzing Jeeps, Moorehouse Kelvinators, and Swaney Coal. Swaney Coal won four Central West Virginia championships between 1952 and 1956. Its players included future Pro Football Hall of Fame member Sam Huff and future Major League Baseball players Paul Popovich and Jim Fridley.[47]

The Clarksburg Oilers competed in professional and independent basketball during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The team participated in the World Professional Basketball Tournament in Chicago in 1939 and 1940.[48]

College athletics

[edit]

Salem University competes in NCAA Division II athletics. The Salem Tigers sponsor varsity sports including baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, wrestling, water polo, softball, and volleyball.[49] Salem was a charter member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference when the conference was organized in 1924.[50]

Salem's men's water polo team won the Western Water Polo Association championship in 2024 and advanced to the NCAA tournament.[51] The university's 1995–96 women's basketball team won its second consecutive WVIAC championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16.[52]

Golf

[edit]

The Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport is the home course of the West Virginia University men's golf program. Since 2015, the course has hosted the university's Mountaineer Invitational collegiate tournament.[53]

Running and boxing

[edit]

The Cecil Jarvis Greater Clarksburg 10K was first held in 1996. The annual road race marked its 30th running in 2026 and also includes a 5K event.[54]

Professional heavyweight boxer Tommy Thomas competed from 1977 to 1986, compiling a 34–8 professional record and reaching sixth in the World Boxing Association heavyweight rankings.[55] In 1998, Thomas established the Tommy Thomas Boxing Club at the Clarksburg Recreation Center. The recreation center was renamed for him in 2025.[56]

High school state championships

[edit]

Harrison County high schools have won state championships in football, boys basketball, and baseball. Before the establishment of a statewide football playoff system, championships were determined by ratings or popular acclaim. During segregation, Kelly Miller High School competed in the West Virginia Athletic Union (WVAU), while Catholic schools including Notre Dame competed for a period in the West Virginia Catholic Athletic Association.[57][58][59]

Football

[edit]
  • Bridgeport High School has won 11 state championships: 1955, 1972, 1979, 1986, 1988, 2000, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2024.[60]
  • Washington Irving High School was recognized as a state champion by popular acclaim in 1922 and 1926.[57]
  • Victory High School was recognized as a state champion by popular acclaim in 1925 and 1935.[57]
  • Roosevelt-Wilson High School was recognized as a state champion by popular acclaim in 1929 and won the Class AA championship in 1958, defeating Sissonville 13–6.[57]
  • Kelly Miller High School won six WVAU state football championships during the segregation era.[58]
  • Lumberport High School won the Class A championship in 1971, defeating Fairview 20–14.[57]
  • Notre Dame won the West Virginia Catholic Athletic Association football championship in 1974, defeating Weirton Madonna 20–16.[59]

Boys basketball

[edit]
  • Victory High School won state championships in 1933 and 1941.[61]
  • Kelly Miller High School won five WVAU state basketball championships. Three of the championships came consecutively from 1942 through 1944.[58]
  • Notre Dame won the West Virginia Catholic Athletic Association championship in 1977 and the WVSSAC Class A championship in 2017.[59][62]
  • Bridgeport High School has won state championships in 1993, 2001, and 2025.[60]

Baseball

[edit]
  • Liberty High School won the Class AA state championship in 1998.[63]
  • Bridgeport High School has won nine state championships: 1993, 2000, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.[60]

Parks and recreation

[edit]
  • Dog Run Lake: A public fishing lake in Harrison County with a public fishing access site maintained by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.[66]
  • Veterans Memorial Park: A park in Clarksburg that includes Splash Zone, the Clarksburg Amphitheater, a fitness trail, miniature golf, disc golf, tennis and pickleball courts, a dog park, playground and picnic facilities.[67]
  • Harrison County Recreation Complex: The principal facility of Harrison County Parks and Recreation, located on Recreation Drive in Clarksburg. The complex includes an all-abilities playground and hosts county recreation programs.[68]
  • Deegan and Hinkle Lakes Park: A Bridgeport park with two stocked lakes, a boat launch and accessible fishing pier, paved trails, tennis courts, pickleball courts, a playground and picnic facilities.[69]
  • The Bridge Sports Complex: A sports complex in Bridgeport with indoor turf, six hardwood courts, competition and warm-up pools, a fitness center and climbing area. Its outdoor facilities include four turfed-infield diamond fields, a multipurpose turf field, grass fields and a walking path.[70]
  • Bridgeport City Park: A municipal park with a two-mile walking trail, two Little League fields, two soccer and football fields, basketball court, archery range, playgrounds and picnic facilities.[71]
  • North Bend Rail Trail: A rail trail extending approximately 72 miles (116 km) from the Parkersburg area to its eastern terminus at Wolf Summit in Harrison County.[72]
  • West Fork River Rail-Trail: A 14.5-mile (23.3 km) trail between Shinnston and Fairmont in Harrison and Marion counties.[73]
  • Harrison North Rail-Trail: A seven-mile trail following the West Fork River from North View in Clarksburg to Spelter.[74]
  • Harrison South Rail-Trail: An 11-mile (18 km) rail-trail corridor between Clarksburg and Lost Creek.[75]

Government

[edit]

Harrison County is governed by a three-member County Commission. Commissioners are elected at large to six-year terms.[76]

Elected county officials

[edit]
  • County Commission: Susan J. Thomas, president; David Hinkle; and Patsy S. Trecost, II.[76]
  • Sheriff: Robert Matheny II.[77]
  • County Clerk: John R. Spires.[78]
  • Circuit Clerk: Albert Marano.[79]
  • Assessor: Allen R. Ferree.[80]
  • Prosecuting Attorney: Rachel Romano.[81]

Representation

[edit]

Public safety

[edit]
  • Fire protection: The West Virginia State Fire Marshal's 2026 roster lists 16 fire departments in Harrison County.[97]
    • Anmoore VFD
    • Bridgeport FD
    • Clarksburg FD
    • Johnstown VFD, Inc.
    • Lost Creek VFD
    • Lumberport VFD
    • Mt Clare VFD
    • Nutter Fort VFD
    • Reynoldsville VFD
    • Salem VFD
    • Shinnston VFD, Inc.
    • Spelter VFD
    • Stonewood VFD
    • Summit Park VFD
    • Wallace VFD
    • West Milford VFD
  • Emergency medical services: Harrison County Emergency Squad, Inc. provides emergency ambulance service to Harrison County.[98] Other EMS providers operating in the county include Anmoore Fire & EMS, the Bridgeport Fire Department, Nutter Fort EMS, and City of Salem EMS.[99][100][101][102]
  • Emergency communications: Harrison-Taylor 911 serves as the lead communications agency for Harrison and Taylor counties.[103] Harrison County's 911 dispatch center coordinates emergency response for law enforcement, fire, and EMS around the clock.[104]

Education

[edit]

Public schools

[edit]

Public education in Harrison County is provided by Harrison County Schools, which is governed by the Harrison County Board of Education. The district's administrative offices are in Clarksburg.[105]

The district's five high schools are Bridgeport High School, Lincoln High School, Robert C. Byrd High School, South Harrison High School, and United High School.[106] Harrison County students also receive career and technical education through United Technical Center, which offers programs in skilled trades, technical fields, health occupations, and other career areas.[107]

Private education

[edit]

Notre Dame High School is a private Catholic secondary school in Clarksburg operated within the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston.[108]

Higher education

[edit]

Salem University is a private university in Salem. Founded as Salem College in 1888, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs through on-campus, online, and blended instruction.[109]

Pierpont Community and Technical College operates two instructional locations in Harrison County. Its Clarksburg campus includes the Gaston Caperton Center and the Veterinary Technology Building. Programs based at the campus include early childhood education, emergency medical services, physical therapist assistant, and veterinary technology.[110]

Pierpont also operates the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center at North Central West Virginia Airport in Bridgeport. The center houses the college's Aviation Maintenance Technology program.[110]

Media

[edit]

Newspapers and online news

[edit]

Radio

[edit]

Full-power radio stations licensed to communities in Harrison County include:

Television

[edit]
  • WBOY-TV, channel 12, is licensed to Clarksburg and serves north-central West Virginia as an NBC affiliate, with ABC programming carried on a digital subchannel.[119]
  • WDTV, a CBS affiliate licensed to Weston, maintains its studios in Bridgeport.[120]
  • WVFX, a Fox affiliate licensed to Clarksburg, shares the Bridgeport studios with WDTV and also carries CW programming.[121]

Infrastructure

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

Highways

[edit]

Interstate 79 crosses Harrison County from south to north, while U.S. Route 50 crosses the county from east to west. The two highways intersect near Bridgeport.[122]

Major highways in Harrison County include:

Air

[edit]

North Central West Virginia Airport is a public commercial airport in Bridgeport owned and operated by the Benedum Airport Authority.[123] Scheduled passenger service is provided by United Express and Allegiant Air.[124]

Wade F. Maley Field, northeast of Shinnston, is a privately owned airfield.[125]

Public transit

[edit]

The Central West Virginia Transit Authority (CENTRA) provides public bus transportation in Harrison County. Its fixed routes serve Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Nutter Fort, Salem, Shinnston, West Milford, and other communities and neighborhoods in the county.[126] In 2026, CENTRA introduced CENTRA CONNECT, an on-demand shared-ride service for trips within Harrison County.[127]

Rail

[edit]

Freight rail service continues through Harrison County, including Clarksburg, as part of the CSX Transportation network.[128]

Utilities

[edit]

Water and sewer

[edit]
  • Clarksburg Water Board: A municipally owned water utility that provides retail and wholesale water service in Harrison County.[129]
  • Bridgeport Utility Board: Oversees the municipal waterworks and sewerage systems in Bridgeport.[130]
  • Greater Harrison County Public Service District: Based in West Milford, the district provides public water and sewer service to portions of Harrison County.[131][132]
  • Sun Valley Public Service District: Provides water and sewer service in portions of Harrison County.[133]
  • Clarksburg Sanitary Board: Oversees the municipal sewer system in Clarksburg.[134]

Other parts of Harrison County are served by municipal water systems and public service districts, including systems based in Shinnston, Nutter Fort, Stonewood, Anmoore, Lumberport, Salem, East View, Hepzibah, and other communities.[135]

Health care

[edit]
  • United Hospital Center: An acute-care hospital in Bridgeport and a member of WVU Medicine. The hospital offers more than 40 medical specialties and serves north-central West Virginia.[136]
  • Highland-Clarksburg Hospital: A private nonprofit behavioral and mental health hospital in Clarksburg.[138]
  • Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department: The county's public health department, based in Clarksburg. It provides clinical and environmental health services, disease-prevention programs, public-health emergency preparedness, and enforcement of public-health regulations.[139]

Notable people

[edit]

Politics and government

[edit]
  • Cleveland M. Bailey – U.S. representative who worked as a teacher and school administrator in Clarksburg and served on the Clarksburg City Council.[140]
  • John S. Carlile – U.S. senator and leader in the movement that led to the creation of West Virginia; lived and practiced law in Clarksburg.[141]
  • John James Davis – U.S. representative and participant in the West Virginia statehood movement; born in Clarksburg and represented Harrison County at the 1861 Wheeling Convention.[142]
  • John W. Davis – lawyer, diplomat, U.S. solicitor general, and Democratic nominee for president in 1924; born in Clarksburg.[143]
  • Guy D. Goff – U.S. senator from West Virginia; born in Clarksburg.[144]
  • Nathan Goff Jr. – U.S. senator, U.S. representative, secretary of the Navy, and federal judge; born in Clarksburg.[145]
  • Howard Mason Gore – governor of West Virginia and U.S. secretary of agriculture; born in Harrison County.[146]
  • Granville D. Hall – West Virginia secretary of state, author, and participant in the state's formation; born in Harrison County.[147]
  • John George Jackson – U.S. representative and federal judge who represented Harrison County in the Virginia House of Delegates and developed business interests in Clarksburg.[148]
  • Joseph Johnson – governor of Virginia and U.S. representative who settled in Harrison County and secured legislation establishing Bridgeport.[149]
  • Waldo P. Johnson – U.S. senator from Missouri; born in Bridgeport, Harrison County.[150]
  • Louis A. Johnson – U.S. secretary of defense, assistant secretary of war, and attorney who spent most of his life in Clarksburg.[151]
  • Jennings Randolph – U.S. representative and U.S. senator; born and raised in Salem.[152]
  • Cyrus Vance – U.S. secretary of state, secretary of the Army, and deputy secretary of defense; born in Clarksburg.[153]

Military and public service

[edit]

Arts, literature, and media

[edit]

Science, education, and business

[edit]
  • Michael Late Benedum – oil and natural gas businessman and philanthropist; born in Bridgeport.[167]
  • Ernest C. S. Holmboe – architect whose Clarksburg-based firms designed buildings throughout West Virginia.[168]
  • Victorine Louistall Monroe – educator and librarian who graduated from and taught at Kelly Miller High School in Clarksburg; later became the first Black faculty member at West Virginia University.[169]
  • Frederick Mosteller – statistician and founding chair of Harvard University's Department of Statistics; born in Clarksburg.[170]

Sports

[edit]
  • Babe Barna – Major League Baseball outfielder; born in Clarksburg.[171]
  • Rex Bumgardner – professional football player for the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns; born in Clarksburg.[172]
  • Jimbo Fisher – college football coach and former Salem College quarterback; from Clarksburg.[173]
  • Frank Loria – Virginia Tech All-American defensive back and member of the College Football Hall of Fame; born in Clarksburg.[174]
  • John McKay – College Football Hall of Fame coach who grew up in Shinnston and graduated from Shinnston High School.[175]
  • Josh Richards – dirt late model racing driver; native of Shinnston.[176]
  • Joe Stydahar – Pro Football Hall of Fame player and NFL head coach; grew up in Harrison County and graduated from Shinnston High School.[177]
  • Tommy Thomas – professional boxer, Clarksburg police officer, and youth boxing coach associated with Clarksburg.[178]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Commissioners". Harrison County Commission.
  2. ↑ "Staff Directory". Harrison County Commission.
  3. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  4. ↑ "West Virginia Counties by Population". World Population Review.
  5. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 Stafford, Margo (April 3, 2026). "Clarksburg". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  7. ↑ "The Frontier". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council. January 28, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Davis, Dorothy U. (April 23, 2026). "Harrison County". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Calwell, Becky (February 8, 2024). "Bridgeport". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  10. ↑ Haymond, Henry (1910). History of Harrison County, West Virginia: From the Early Days of Northwestern Virginia to the Present. Morgantown, West Virginia: Acme Publishing Company. p. 235.
  11. ↑ "History of West Virginia". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council. July 14, 2025.
  12. ↑ "History". WVU Medicine.
  13. ↑ "Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)". Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  14. ↑ "CJIS Biometric Technology Center Celebrates 10 Years". Federal Bureau of Investigation. September 22, 2025.
  15. ↑ Davis, Dorothy U. (April 23, 2026). "Harrison County". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  16. ↑ "2020 Census Gazetteer Files: West Virginia Counties". United States Census Bureau. 2020.
  17. ↑ Venable, Wallace (February 8, 2024). "West Fork River". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  18. 1 2 "QuickFacts: Harrison County, West Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
  21. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ↑ "QuickFacts: Harrison County, West Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021.
  24. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021.
  25. ↑ "About Us". WVU Medicine.
  26. ↑ "Louis A. Johnson Veterans' Administration Medical Center". United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
  27. ↑ "CJIS Division Observes a Milestone". Federal Bureau of Investigation. November 12, 2024.
  28. ↑ "CJIS Biometric Technology Center Celebrates 10 Years". Federal Bureau of Investigation. September 22, 2025.
  29. ↑ Bjerregaard, Lindsay (July 9, 2024). "Gallery: MHIRJ's West Virginia Service Center Rolls Out MRO Innovations". Aviation Week.
  30. ↑ "Pratt & Whitney Canada MRO Facility in Bridgeport, West Virginia, Celebrates 50 Years of Operation". Pratt & Whitney. October 27, 2021.
  31. ↑ "About Aurora". Aurora Flight Sciences.
  32. ↑ "Contact Our Team". Amsted Graphite Materials.
  33. ↑ "West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival". West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival.
  34. ↑ "West Virginia Black Heritage Festival". West Virginia Black Heritage Festival.
  35. ↑ Volpetti, Nick (August 7, 2026). "21st annual Jesus Fest begins in Clarksburg". WDTV.
  36. ↑ "Salem Apple Butter Festival". Salem Apple Butter Festival.
  37. ↑ Taylor, Ava (August 1, 2026). "Shindy Music Festival highlights West Virginia artists in Shinnston". WDTV.
  38. ↑ Stiles, Jake (July 17, 2026). "4th annual Firefighter's Festival to return to Stonewood July 31-Aug. 2". WV News.
  39. ↑ "About". Old Mill & Float the Fork Festival.
  40. ↑ "Family Fun Extravaganza April 23-26 Clarksburg City Park, Nutter Fort". West Virginia Department of Tourism. April 23, 2026.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Harrison County". West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office.
  42. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form: Templemoor". National Park Service.
  43. ↑ Taylor, Ava (June 26, 2026). "Clarksburg History Museum honors supporters at first annual 'History Friends Gathering'". WDTV.
  44. ↑ "Director: museum has its own history". Shinnston News & Harrison County Journal. September 1, 2022.
  45. ↑ Taylor, Peter (June 29, 2026). "History Bugle: Harrison County West Virginia Historical Society". WV News.
  46. ↑ "Baseball". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council. July 13, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Ken Ash". Society for American Baseball Research.
  48. ↑ "World's Pro Basketball Tournament Official Programs, 1939–1941". Black Fives Foundation.
  49. ↑ "Athletics". Salem University.
  50. ↑ "Athletics Archives". Salem University Athletics.
  51. ↑ "2024-2025 Salem Athletics Year in Review". Salem University Athletics. June 16, 2025.
  52. ↑ "Salem Announces the 2026 Inductees to Athletics Hall of Fame". Salem University Athletics. June 15, 2026.
  53. ↑ Messerly, Bryan (April 12, 2026). "Golf Set to Host 11th Mountaineer Invitational". West Virginia University Athletics.
  54. ↑ O'Brien, Henry (May 15, 2026). "Original race planner Larry Mazza reflects on 30th Cecil Jarvis Greater Clarksburg 10K". WV News.
  55. ↑ Miller, John (November 1, 2021). "West Virginia legendary boxer Tommy Thomas, who became respected and beloved police officer, has died". WV News.
  56. ↑ Gilmartin, Tanner (August 13, 2025). "Clarksburg Recreation Center renamed in honor of local boxing legend". WDTV.
  57. 1 2 3 4 5 "West Virginia high school football playoffs (1916–2023)" (PDF). West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
  58. 1 2 3 Huff, Doug. "Segregated state basketball championships". West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
  59. 1 2 3 "Catholic Athletic Association". West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
  60. 1 2 3 "State Titles". Bridgeport High School.
  61. ↑ "Boys Basketball" (PDF). West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.
  62. ↑ Clay, Jarrod (March 18, 2017). "Game 19: Notre Dame wins Class A state championship". WCHS-TV.
  63. ↑ "City Resident, Former Liberty Baseball Coach Iquinto Has Field Named in His Honor". Connect-Bridgeport. July 29, 2012.
  64. ↑ "Watters Smith Memorial State Park". West Virginia State Parks.
  65. ↑ "District 1 Wildlife Management Areas". West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
  66. ↑ "Dog Run Lake Fishing Guide" (PDF). West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. October 15, 2018.
  67. ↑ "Veteran's Memorial Park". City Parks of Clarksburg.
  68. ↑ "Harrison County Recreation Complex". Harrison County Parks and Recreation.
  69. ↑ "Parks and Recreation". City of Bridgeport.
  70. ↑ "The Bridge Sports Complex". City of Bridgeport.
  71. ↑ "Parks and Recreation". City of Bridgeport.
  72. ↑ "Attractions Near North Bend State Park". West Virginia State Parks.
  73. ↑ "West Fork River Rail-Trail". West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council.
  74. ↑ "Harrison North Rail-Trail". West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council.
  75. ↑ "Harrison South Rail-Trail". West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council.
  76. 1 2 "Commissioners". Harrison County Commission.
  77. 1 2 "Sheriff's Office". Harrison County Commission.
  78. ↑ "County Clerk". Harrison County Commission.
  79. ↑ "Circuit Clerk". Harrison County Commission.
  80. ↑ "Harrison County Assessor's Office". Harrison County Assessor's Office.
  81. ↑ "Prosecuting Attorney". Harrison County Commission.
  82. ↑ "West Virginia Code §1-2-3. Congressional districts". West Virginia Legislature.
  83. ↑ "Representative Riley Moore". United States House of Representatives.
  84. ↑ "Patrick S. Martin". West Virginia Legislature.
  85. ↑ "Ben Queen". West Virginia Legislature.
  86. ↑ "Keith Marple". West Virginia Legislature.
  87. ↑ "Mickey Petitto". West Virginia Legislature.
  88. ↑ "Laura Kimble". West Virginia Legislature.
  89. ↑ "Clay Riley". West Virginia Legislature.
  90. ↑ "Police Department". City of Clarksburg.
  91. ↑ "Police Department". City of Bridgeport.
  92. ↑ "Police Department". City of Stonewood.
  93. ↑ "Police Department". Town of Nutter Fort.
  94. ↑ "Police Department". Town of Anmoore.
  95. ↑ "Main Street in Salem, West Virginia shut down between Valley St. and Water St. due to flooding". WV News. June 6, 2025.
  96. ↑ "Contact". City of Shinnston.
  97. ↑ "West Virginia Fire Departments". West Virginia State Fire Marshal. June 23, 2026.
  98. ↑ "Harrison County Emergency Squad". Harrison County Emergency Squad, Inc.
  99. ↑ "Fire & EMS". Town of Anmoore.
  100. ↑ "Fire Department". City of Bridgeport.
  101. ↑ "Nutter Fort EMS". Nutter Fort Fire Department.
  102. ↑ "Harrison and Taylor Counties". West Virginia Statewide Interoperable Radio Network.
  103. ↑ "Harrison and Taylor Counties". West Virginia Statewide Interoperable Radio Network.
  104. ↑ "Harrison County Commission". Harrison County Commission.
  105. ↑ "Harrison County Board of Education". Harrison County Board of Education.
  106. ↑ "Academic Programs". Harrison County Board of Education.
  107. ↑ "High School Curriculum". Harrison County Board of Education.
  108. ↑ "Notre Dame High School". Notre Dame High School.
  109. ↑ "History & Mission". Salem University.
  110. 1 2 "About". Pierpont Community & Technical College.
  111. ↑ "WV Newspapers". West Virginia Press Association.
  112. ↑ "WV News Editorial: Executive Editor John Miller, 'The Legend' has passed away". West Virginia Press Association. August 27, 2025.
  113. ↑ "WV Newspapers". West Virginia Press Association.
  114. ↑ "Connect Bridgeport". Muck Rack.
  115. 1 2 3 4 5 "FCCInfo Facility Search Results: Clarksburg, West Virginia". FCCInfo.
  116. 1 2 "FCCInfo Facility Search Results: Salem, West Virginia". FCCInfo.
  117. ↑ "Public File". VCY America.
  118. ↑ "AM Station WHAW". Federal Communications Commission.
  119. ↑ "Nexstar Media Group Names Jim Dodrill Vice President and General Manager of Clarksburg, West Virginia Television and Digital Operations". Nexstar Media Group. March 27, 2017.
  120. ↑ "WDTV 5". Gray Media.
  121. ↑ "Find Us On Cable - Fox 10". Gray Media.
  122. ↑ "GIS County General Highway Maps". West Virginia Department of Transportation.
  123. ↑ "About Us". North Central West Virginia Airport.
  124. ↑ "Airline Information". North Central West Virginia Airport.
  125. ↑ "Airport Websites". West Virginia Department of Transportation.
  126. ↑ "Routes". Central West Virginia Transit Authority.
  127. ↑ "CENTRA CONNECT Shared Ride Bus Service". Central West Virginia Transit Authority.
  128. ↑ "CSX System Map". CSX Transportation.
  129. ↑ "Community Improvement Award". Clarksburg Water Board.
  130. ↑ "Bridgeport Utility Board (BUB)". City of Bridgeport.
  131. ↑ "About Us". Greater Harrison County Public Service District.
  132. ↑ "Rates & Policies". Greater Harrison County Public Service District.
  133. ↑ "Sun Valley Public Service District". Sun Valley Public Service District.
  134. ↑ "Boards & Commissions M–Z". City of Clarksburg.
  135. ↑ "Harrison County Water Rate Comparison" (PDF). Clarksburg Water Board. June 7, 2024.
  136. ↑ "United Hospital Center". WVU Medicine.
  137. ↑ "Louis A. Johnson Veterans' Administration Medical Center". U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  138. ↑ "Highland-Clarksburg Hospital". Highland-Clarksburg Hospital.
  139. ↑ "Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department". Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department.
  140. ↑ "Cleve Bailey". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  141. ↑ "John S. Carlile". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  142. ↑ "DAVIS, John James". United States House of Representatives.
  143. ↑ "John W. Davis". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  144. ↑ "GOFF, Guy Despard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  145. ↑ "Nathan Goff Jr.". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  146. ↑ "Howard Mason Gore". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  147. ↑ "Granville Davisson Hall". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  148. ↑ "John George Jackson". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  149. ↑ "Joseph Johnson". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  150. ↑ "JOHNSON, Waldo Porter". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  151. ↑ "Louis A. Johnson". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  152. ↑ "Jennings Randolph". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  153. ↑ "Cyrus Vance". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  154. ↑ "Stonewall Jackson". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  155. ↑ "Mudwall Jackson". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  156. ↑ "Melvin Mayfield". Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
  157. ↑ "Julia Davis Adams". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  158. ↑ Murphy, Brian (December 27, 2023). "Hugh Aynesworth, journalist on scene at JFK assassination, dies at 92". The Washington Post.
  159. ↑ "Phyllis Curtin". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  160. ↑ "Bridgeport's Mike Florio among Four to be Inducted to WVU's Academy of Distinguished Alumni 2026 Class". Connect-Bridgeport. January 12, 2026.
  161. ↑ "Pare Lorentz". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  162. ↑ "Jazz". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council. March 20, 2026.
  163. ↑ Antonik, John (February 28, 2018). "Clarksburg's Patrick Proud of His Mountain State Roots". West Virginia University Athletics.
  164. ↑ "Melville Davisson Post". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  165. ↑ "Clyde Ware". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  166. ↑ "Meredith Sue Willis". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  167. ↑ "Michael L. Benedum". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  168. ↑ "Clarksburg". SAH Archipedia. Society of Architectural Historians.
  169. ↑ "Libraries unveil inaugural Inclusive Portrait". West Virginia University Libraries. May 11, 2022.
  170. ↑ "Charles Frederick Mosteller". Harvard Gazette. Harvard University. November 15, 2007.
  171. ↑ "Babe Barna Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  172. ↑ "Rex Bumgardner Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  173. ↑ "Jimbo Fisher". Texas A&M Athletics.
  174. ↑ "Frank Loria". National Football Foundation.
  175. ↑ "John McKay". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  176. ↑ "Testimony - Josh Richards". Josh Richards Racing.
  177. ↑ "Joe Stydahar". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. West Virginia Humanities Council.
  178. ↑ "Clarksburg recreation center renamed in honor of local boxing legend". WDTV. August 14, 2025.


39°17′N 80°23′W / 39.29°N 80.38°W / 39.29; -80.38

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