Pruntytown, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pruntytown
|
|
|---|---|
 Pruntytown
Location in West Virginia
Pruntytown
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Taylor |
| Elevation | 1,204 ft (367 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1545306 |
Pruntytown is a small place in Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. It is called an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of the larger county.
Pruntytown is located where two important roads meet: U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 250. It is also home to the Pruntytown Correctional Center. This building used to be called the West Virginia Industrial Home for Boys.
Contents
The Early Days of Pruntytown
The first people to settle in what is now Pruntytown arrived around 1798. These pioneers were John Prunty, Sr. and his son David. This was the very first known white settlement in the area that later became Taylor County.
At first, the settlement was known as Cross Roads. This name came from the two old roads that met there: the Clarksburg Pike and the Beverly and Fairmont Road.
How Pruntytown Got Its Name
On January 1, 1801, the name of the settlement changed to Williamsport. This was done to honor Abraham Williams, who lived in the area.
However, the name "Prunty Town" started appearing in books by 1835. One book from that year described the town. It said Prunty Town had 18 houses, two churches (one Methodist and one Baptist), and a school.
The town also had three stores, a tavern, and several workshops. These included a tanyard, places for saddlers, shoe makers, a hatter, a tailor, and blacksmiths. There was also a gunsmith and a cabinet maker. The population at that time was 110 people.
The book also mentioned that the land around the town was a bit hilly but good for farming. It was especially good for raising cattle and growing small grains.
The name change to Pruntytown became official on January 23, 1845. This was done to honor the Prunty family, who were the first settlers.
Pruntytown as a County Seat
When Taylor County was created in 1844, Pruntytown became its first county seat. A county seat is like the main town or capital of a county, where the government offices are located.
However, in 1878, the people of the county voted to move the county seat. It was moved about three miles away to the town of Grafton.
Famous People from Pruntytown
- John Barton Payne (1855–1935) was born in Pruntytown. He became a lawyer and later served as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1920 to 1921. The Secretary of the Interior is a high-ranking government official who manages public lands and natural resources.
