Wallback, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wallback, West Virginia
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 Wallback, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Wallback, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| Counties | Clay and Roane |
| Elevation | 764 ft (233 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
25285
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| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1555908 |
Wallback is a small, unincorporated community located in the state of West Virginia, United States. It sits partly in Clay County and partly in Roane County. Wallback is easy to find because it's right where two important roads meet: Interstate 79 and West Virginia Route 36. It's about 7.5 miles (12 km) north-northwest of the town of Clay. Even though it's a small place, Wallback has its own post office with the ZIP code 25285.
Contents
Discovering Wallback, West Virginia
Wallback is a quiet community in the heart of West Virginia. It's known for its location where two major roads cross paths. This makes it a recognizable spot for travelers.
How Wallback Got Its Name
The community of Wallback was named after a very interesting person: John Baptiste de Barth, Baron de Walbach. He was a brave soldier from a place called Alsace, which is now part of France.
Who Was John de Barth Walbach?
John de Barth Walbach was a hussar, which was a type of light cavalry soldier, during the French Revolutionary Wars. He later came to the United States. Here, he became an important helper to Alexander Hamilton, who was one of America's Founding Fathers. Walbach rose through the ranks in the U.S. military. He became the Adjutant General of the United States during the War of 1812. He was also known for being the oldest acting officer in U.S. history!
The French 500 and Early Settlements
John de Barth Walbach's family had a connection to the land in West Virginia. His father, Count Jean-Joseph de Barth, owned a large area of land – about 10,000 acres – along the Elk River. Count Jean-Joseph de Barth was part of a group known as the "French 500." These were people who left France during the French Revolution. They came to America and helped start the town of Gallipolis, Ohio.
