Baileysville, West Virginia facts for kids

Baileysville is a small, historical place in Wyoming County, West Virginia, United States. It's known as an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.

Most of Baileysville was bought by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s and 1970s. This happened so they could build the R. D. Bailey Lake. The lake is a large reservoir created by a dam, which helps control floods and provides water. The local Post Office in Baileysville closed in 1973 because of these changes.

The name Baileysville lived on through the local high school, Baileysville High School. This school served students from a wide area, even though it was located a bit outside the original community. Baileysville High School closed in 2002. Its students then joined with Oceana High to create a new school called Westside High School.

The community was named after James Bailey, Sr., who was an important early settler in the area.

History of Baileysville

Baileysville's history is closely tied to the natural landscape of West Virginia. It began as a small settlement. Like many communities in the region, it grew around local resources and the people who settled there.

The R. D. Bailey Lake Project

A major event in Baileysville's history was the creation of the R. D. Bailey Lake. The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a group that builds and manages public works projects. They bought much of the land in Baileysville. This was done to build a large dam and create the lake. This project was important for flood control in the region. It also helped manage water resources for nearby areas.

Changes to the Community

Because of the lake project, many residents had to move. The community changed a lot during the 1960s and 1970s. The closing of the Post Office in 1973 was a sign of these changes. Even though the original community changed, its name continued to be important in the area.

Baileysville High School

The local high school played a big role in the identity of Baileysville. Even after much of the community changed, the school kept the name alive.

Serving the Region

Baileysville High School was important for many students in Wyoming County. It served a large area, bringing together young people from different small communities. The school was a central place for education and community events.

School Consolidation

In 2002, Baileysville High School closed its doors. This happened as part of a "consolidation" effort. Consolidation means combining smaller schools into a larger one. Baileysville High merged with Oceana High. Together, they formed a new school called Westside High School. This new school continued to serve the students of the region.

Origin of the Name

The name Baileysville comes from an early settler. The community was named after James Bailey, Sr. He was a "pioneer," which means he was one of the first people to settle and develop the area. Naming places after important early settlers was a common practice in American history.