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Ohio County

Ohio County, located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, was created in 1776. It was one of the first counties in Virginia west of the Allegheny Mountains and, with Monongalia and Yohogania, one of the three counties formed from the District of West Augusta.

Mapped Points

• Wheeling

  Wheeling is the manufacturing and commercial center of the Northern Panhandle and the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is home to West Virginia Independence Hall, the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge, and many other sites. The city has two colleges: Wheeling-Jesuit College and West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College. Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Racetrack is a greyhound racing track and gambling center located on Wheeling Island in the city of Wheeling.
  

  

• West Liberty University

  West Liberty University’s roots go back to 1837 when the Virginia legislature granted a charter to establish a private academy at West Liberty.
  

  

• Oglebay Park

  Industrialist Earl Oglebay willed Waddington Farm to the City of Wheeling upon his death, for use as a public park. In 1926, Wheeling accepted the $2 million farm and renamed it Oglebay Park. Each winter, Oglebay Park hosts the Festival of Lights, a large holiday light display. Oglebay is home to the Stifel Fine Arts Center.
  

  

• Ohio River

  The Ohio River begins at Pittsburgh, with the union of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. From there the Ohio travels 981 miles to Cairo, Illinois, where it joins the Mississippi.

• Bear Rock Lakes Wildlife Management Area

  The Bear Rock Lakes Wildlife Management Area is named for huge rocks found on its 242 acres. Four lakes, covering 16 acres, provide fishing for trout, catfish, muskie, large-mouth bass, and bluegill, as well as a home to waterfowl.
  

  

• National Road

  The 16-mile stretch of National Road that passes through West Virginia has been designated as an All-American Road.

• West Virginia Independence Hall

  No Description

• Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge

  Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge, the oldest bridge in the state, carries the National Road (U.S. 40) over Little Wheeling Creek in Wheeling.