North Central West Virginia facts for kids

North Central West Virginia is a special area in the state of West Virginia. People sometimes call it "Mountaineer Country." The biggest cities in this region are Morgantown, Fairmont, and Clarksburg.

Counties in the Region

This part of West Virginia includes several counties. Some counties are always considered part of North Central West Virginia. Others are sometimes included, depending on how people define the region.

Core Counties

These counties are usually seen as the main part of North Central West Virginia:

• Monongalia County
• Marion County
• Harrison County
• Taylor County
• Doddridge County

Other Nearby Counties

These counties are sometimes also included in the region:

• Barbour County
• Lewis County
• Upshur County
• Preston County
• Randolph County
• Wetzel County

Cities and Towns

Many cities and towns are found in North Central West Virginia. Here are some of the main ones:

• Morgantown
• Fairmont
• Mannington
• Clarksburg
• Bridgeport
• Grafton
• West Union

Other Cities Sometimes Included

These cities are sometimes also considered part of the region:

• Kingwood
• Philippi
• New Martinsville
• Weston
• Buckhannon
• Elkins

Media and Communication

People in North Central West Virginia stay connected through various media. This includes local TV channels, radio stations, and newspapers.

Television Channels

• WBOY-TV (Channel 12, NBC)
• EBOY-TV (Channel 11, ABC)
• WDTV-TV (Channel 5, CBS)
• WNPB-TV (Channel 24, PBS)
• WVFX-TV (Channel 46, FOX)

Radio Stations

The region has many radio stations playing different types of music and shows:

• WAJR (1440 AM) - News, talk, and sports
• WVAQ (101.9 FM) - Top 40 hits
• WKKW (97.9 FM) - Country music
• WWLW (106.5 FM) - Adult Contemporary music
• WCLG (100.1 FM) - Active rock
• WGYE (102.7 FM) - Conservative talk shows
• WRLF (94.3 FM) - Mainstream rock
• WPDX (104.9 FM) - Classic country music
• WFGM (93.1 FM) - Classic Top 40 hits
• WVIW (104.1 FM) - Christian music
• WKTZ (95.9 FM) - Contemporary Christian music
• WZST (100.9 FM) - Country music
• WOTR (96.3 FM) - Religious music
• WHTI (105.7 FM) - Conservative talk shows
• WVUS (1190 AM) - Catholic radio
• WXJ85 (162.550 MHz) - NOAA Weather Radio (for weather alerts)

Local Newspapers

• Times West Virginian (from Fairmont)
• The Dominion Post (from Morgantown)
• Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram (from Clarksburg)

Getting Around: Transportation

Traveling in North Central West Virginia is possible through public buses, major highways, and airports.

Public Bus Services

Several bus services help people travel within and between cities:

• Fairmont Marion County Transit Authority: This service mainly covers Marion County. You can also take buses to Clarksburg and Morgantown for a small fee. Children under 6 ride for free.
• CENTRA: This service is based in the southern part of the region, around Clarksburg and Harrison County. Buses run on weekdays and Saturdays.
• Mountain Line Transit Authority: This service covers Monongalia County and the WVU campuses. It has many routes, especially when WVU is in session. There's also a special "Grey Line" bus that connects the area to Pittsburgh. Children 5 and under ride free on regular routes.

Major Roads

The region is connected by important highways, making travel by car easy.

Interstate Highways

• Interstate 79
• Interstate 68

U.S. Routes

• U.S. Route 50
• U.S. Route 19
• U.S. Route 119
• U.S. Route 250

Appalachian Corridors

These are special highway projects designed to improve travel in the Appalachian region.

• Corridor D
• Corridor H

West Virginia State Routes

• West Virginia Route 20
• West Virginia Route 310
• West Virginia Route 7
• West Virginia Route 58
• West Virginia Route 57

Airports

For air travel, the region has two main airports:

• Morgantown Municipal Airport
• North Central West Virginia Airport

Population Changes Over Time

The population of the counties in North Central West Virginia has changed over many years. The table below shows how many people lived in each county at different times. The "2013 (estimate)" column shows the most recent guess of the population.