Mineral County, West Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mineral County
U.S. county
Mineral County Courthouse in Keyser
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
Founded	February 1, 1866
Seat	Keyser
Largest city	Keyser
Area
• Total	329 sq mi (850 km2)
• Land	328 sq mi (850 km2)
• Water	1.4 sq mi (4 km2)  0.4%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	26,938
• Estimate  (2021)	26,857
• Density	81.88/sq mi (31.61/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st

Mineral County is a special area called a county in the state of West Virginia. It is part of the Cumberland metropolitan area, which includes Cumberland, Maryland. In 2020, about 26,938 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Keyser. Mineral County was officially created in 1866.

History of Mineral County

Early History and Native Americans

Long ago, for thousands of years, Indigenous peoples lived in the highlands along the rivers in this area. Scientists who study old cultures, called Archeologists, have found items from the Adena culture. These items are from a time between 1000 BC and 200 BC.

The Adena people were one of the first Native American groups to build large earth mounds. They used these mounds for special ceremonies and for burying their dead. You can find signs of their culture all over West Virginia. Other Native American groups lived here after the Adena people.

Later, the Haudenosaunee (also known as the Iroquois Confederacy) moved into the Ohio Valley. They were looking for new places to hunt. By the 1600s, they had taken over other tribes and kept this area for hunting.

How Mineral County Was Formed

Mineral County was created after West Virginia became a state in 1863. It was formed in 1866 from a part of Hampshire County. The county got its name because it had many valuable minerals, especially coal. Even though coal is a type of rock, not a mineral, the name stuck!

A very important event for the county was when the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad arrived in 1842. The county seat, Keyser, was even named after a leader of this railroad company.

In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into smaller areas called civil townships. This was meant to help local governments. But it was hard to manage in a state with many rural areas. So, in 1872, the townships became magisterial districts. Mineral County started with seven townships. One was returned to Hampshire County, and the other six became magisterial districts. Later, in the 1980s, these six districts were combined into three new ones: District 1, District 2, and District 3.

Geography and Nature

Mineral County covers about 329 square miles. Most of this is land (328 square miles), and a small part is water (1.4 square miles).

Mountains of Mineral County

The Allegheny Front is a big mountain range in West Virginia that runs through Mineral County. The highest point in the county is called "the Pinnacle." It is about 3,104 feet above sea level. From an old fire tower there, you can see four states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. The Allegheny Front is the largest mountain in the county. Its northern part is also known as Green Mountain.

On top of the Allegheny Plateau are the towns of Sulphur City and Elk Garden, West Virginia. The Potomac River Valley is to the west and north of the mountain. The New Creek Valley is to the east.

Knobly Mountain is another long mountain in Mineral County. It stretches from the Grant County line in the south to the Potomac River in the north near Ridgeley, West Virginia. To the east of Patterson Creek Valley are smaller hills that form the border with Hampshire County.

Rivers and Waterways

• The North Branch Potomac River is the biggest river nearby. It forms the northern border of the county and the state border with Maryland. Jennings Randolph Lake is located on this river.
• New Creek flows into the North Branch Potomac River at Keyser. Its source is in Grant County, West Virginia. New Creek provides water for the city of Keyser.
• Patterson Creek flows into the Potomac River east of Cumberland, Maryland. Its source is also in Grant County, West Virginia. The Patterson Creek area covers two-thirds of Mineral County.

Minerals Found Here

Natural gas can be found east of the Allegheny Front. There are also deposits of iron ore. Mineral County no longer produces iron. However, you can still see several old iron furnaces from the 1800s.

Population and People

In 2020, there were 26,938 people living in Mineral County. Most residents were White (about 91.9%). About 2.7% were African American, and 0.4% were Asian. About 1.15% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin. The average age of people in the county was 44.6 years.

Economy and Jobs

Industrial Parks

The Mineral County Development Authority manages special areas for businesses called industrial parks. One is near Keyser and has access to train lines. Another is near Fort Ashby and has fast internet. These parks help create jobs and bring new businesses to the county.

Education in Mineral County

The schools in Mineral County are managed by Mineral County Schools.

High Schools

Mineral County has two high schools:

• Frankfort High School is located near Short Gap.
• Keyser High School is located south of Keyser.

Colleges

Potomac State College is a two-year college located in Keyser, West Virginia. It is built on the site of Fort Fuller, an important place during the Civil War.

Transportation

Airport

The Greater Cumberland Regional Airport is located in Wiley Ford.

Public Transportation

The Potomac Valley Transit Authority provides public transportation services. This means people can get around using buses or other shared rides.

Rail Travel

CSX train lines run along the Potomac River on the northern border of the county. You can catch an Amtrak train in Cumberland, Maryland, which is just across the river from Ridgeley, West Virginia. The Keyser railroad station closed in the 1980s.

Main Roads

Parks and Fun Places

Larenim Park

This park is owned by Mineral County and is about 365 acres. It has two picnic areas, an amphitheater that can seat 600 people, and fields for Little League and softball. You can also go fishing in two flood control dams that are stocked with fish. The whole park is open for public hunting with a permit. There are about 5 miles of trails for walking. An arboretum (a place with many different trees) is being built here. Larenim Park is also home to a local theater group called McNeill's Rangers.

Barnum Whitewater Area

This area is about 40 acres and is owned by Mineral County. It has 4 miles of rail/trail for walking or biking. It also has about 1 mile of river frontage on the North Branch of the Potomac River. This is a great place for trout fishing and offers 7 miles of whitewater rafting and canoeing for families. You can also hunt on the state lands around it.

MINCO Park

Owned by Mineral County Schools, MINCO Park is 13.5 acres. It has two picnic areas with 50 picnic tables, nine cabins, a dining hall, a chapel, a meeting room, and bath/shower facilities.

Van Myra Campground

This campground is owned by the State of West Virginia and leased by Mineral County. It is about 10 acres and has three picnic tables, four small picnic shelters, and a picnic area.

Dam Site #21

This 178-acre area is owned by Mineral County and has no special facilities. It has a 10-acre flood control dam where you can fish.

Jennings Randolph Lake

Jennings Randolph Lake is named after Senator Jennings Randolph. It was built in 1981 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers on top of the old town of Shaw, West Virginia. The lake is near Elk Garden. It is a large lake, covering 952 acres with over 13 miles of shoreline, offering lots of fun activities.

The Howell Run Picnic Area overlooks the lake and has 40 picnic spots, two shelters, a playground, and restrooms. The Howell Run Boat Launch has a two-lane concrete ramp for boats. The Robert W. Craig Campground is on a high ridge overlooking the dam. It has 87 campsites, water, hot showers, restrooms, and a playground. There's also a 3/4-mile interpretive trail to explore. The West Virginia Overlook has a two-level Visitor Center. You can also see Waffle Rock, a unique natural rock formation, from the Overlook.

Golf Courses

• Polish Pines – This is a private golf course with nine holes and a club house.
• Mill Creek – This is another private golf course with nine holes and a club house.

Libraries

Mineral County has the Keyser-Mineral County Public Library. It opened in 1937. In 1962, it moved to a bigger building. The library gets money from the West Virginia Library Commission, Mineral County Court, and Keyser City Council. Besides the main library in Keyser, there are also branches in Burlington and Fort Ashby.

There is also the Piedmont Public Library, which is supported by County United Way and the West Virginia Library Commission.

Communities in Mineral County

City

• Keyser (This is the county seat, the main town for county government)

Towns

• Piedmont
• Ridgeley
• Carpendale
• Elk Garden

Magisterial Districts

• District 1
• District 2
• District 3

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated.

• Burlington
• Fort Ashby
• Wiley Ford

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a city or town.

Historical Sites to Visit

Mineral County has many interesting historical places:

• Carskadon Mansion
• Claysville Church
• Claysville Log House
• Fort Ashby
• Fort Cocke
• Fort Fuller
• Fort Ohio
• Fort Sellers
• Mineral County Courthouse (West Virginia)
• Nancy Hanks Birthplace
• New Creek Blockhouse
• Northwestern Turnpike
• Patterson Creek Manor
• Saddle Mountain
• Traveler's Rest
• Weaver's Antique Service Station
• Wind Lea

Notable People from Mineral County

Many interesting people have come from Mineral County:

Images for kids

• 

  Saddle Mountain as viewed from Highland Acres Farm

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Mineral (Virginia Occidental) para niños