O'Brien, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
O'Brien
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 O'Brien
Location in West Virginia
O'Brien
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| County |  Barbour |
| Elevation | 1,542 ft (470 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS ID | 1697140 |
O'Brien was a small, unincorporated community located in Barbour County, West Virginia, in the United States. An "unincorporated community" is a place that isn't officially a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it's part of a larger county.
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What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community is a group of homes or buildings that are not part of an official city or town. This means they don't have their own mayor or city council. Instead, the county government handles services like roads and public safety for these areas.
How They Are Different
Think of it like this: a city has its own rules and leaders. An unincorporated community follows the rules of the county it's in. People living in these areas still get mail and have addresses, just like in a city.
Where Was O'Brien?
O'Brien was found in Barbour County, West Virginia. West Virginia is a state known for its beautiful mountains and forests. Barbour County is in the central part of the state.
Geographic Location
The community was located at an elevation of about 1,542 feet (470 meters) above sea level. This means it was quite high up, typical for the hilly landscape of West Virginia. Its exact coordinates were 39 degrees, 3 minutes, 8 seconds North and 80 degrees, 1 minute, 52 seconds West.
History of O'Brien
Like many small communities in West Virginia, O'Brien likely grew around a local industry or a group of families. Over time, some of these smaller places change or become less populated. O'Brien is now considered a former community.
Why Communities Change
Many factors can cause a community to change. Sometimes, people move to bigger towns for jobs or opportunities. Other times, industries that supported a community might close down. This can lead to a place becoming less active or even disappearing from maps over time.
