Blaine Island facts for kids

Blaine Island is an island located in the Kanawha River. You can find it in South Charleston, West Virginia. This island is about 80 acres (or 32 hectares) in size. It stretches for about 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) long and is around 900 feet (274 meters) wide at its broadest point.

Today, Blaine Island is a busy industrial area. It serves as a major manufacturing site for the Union Carbide Corporation. This company is part of the Dow Chemical Company.

What is Blaine Island Known For?

Union Carbide bought Blaine Island in 1927. They wanted to make more petrochemical products there. Petrochemicals are chemicals made from petroleum or natural gas. They are used to create many things, like plastics and medicines.

Union Carbide already had petrochemical plants nearby. One was in South Charleston (built in 1925). Another was in Clendenin (built in 1920). The Clendenin plant was special because it was the world's first petrochemical plant! Because Union Carbide has been on Blaine Island for so long, some local people call it "Carbide Island."

How Did Blaine Island Get Its Name?

Blaine Island is named after a man named Blaine. He built a mill on the island before 1823. A mill is a building where grain is ground into flour. Blaine's mill was made of logs. Its dam stretched from the south side of the Kanawha River all the way to the island.

Early Settlers and Trees

An early settler named Fleming Cobb also had a connection to Blaine Island. In the 1780s, he planted two pear trees there. He had brought these trees from Tidewater Virginia. These were some of the very first fruit trees ever planted west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Who Works on the Island Today?

Blaine Island is now home to several companies. The Bayer Corporation owns and runs the Polyols Production Unit. This unit used to belong to Union Carbide. Even though Bayer owns it, Union Carbide still helps out. They provide staff, services, and utilities to Bayer on the island.