West Virginia’s ‘weird shape’ is part of its charm

West Virginia’s northern panhandle juts upward between Pennsylvania’s western border and southern Ohio to include a stack of four counties. The panhandle is 69 miles long (north-south) and has a width (east-west) that ranges from 4 to 16 miles. 

The “offshoot” exists because Ohio was happy with its lower boundary being defined by the Ohio River, and Pennsylvania was happy with its “neatly straight” western and southern borders. 

In short, neither Ohio nor Pennsylvania ever showed any interest in “annexing” that West Virginia wedge of real estate.

The largest cities within West Virginia’s northern panhandle from north to south are Weirton and Wheeling. 

Weirton’s city limits actually touch Ohio and Pennsylvania. Weirton is about 35 miles due west of Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Wheeling, which is about 25 miles south of Weirton, became the first capital of West Virginia when it attained statehood in 1863. 

The capital was moved to Charleston in 1870, but it was brought back to Wheeling from 1875-85. The seat of state government was then transferred back to Charleston, where the sparkling, golden-domed capitol building now resides on the banks of the Kanawha River. 

Laura Jackson Roberts of Wheeling, a contributor to Mountaineer Media, is the voice of “northern panhandlers.” They take offense at the sight of “maps that erase the northern panhandle entirely and Christmas ornaments that use the tiny wire hook to represent our home. It stings.” 

“We love West Virginia,” Roberts said. “You might say we’re kinda Pittsburghy. It’s OK – we’re a panhandle. An extension. A place where outside influences bleed across the borders and muddy the cultural water, just a bit. Doesn’t that make it interesting?”

 "Community character" is on display in Wellsburg, W.Va., in the northern panhandle.

“What we lack in land mass, we make up for in history. In culture. Historically, the northern panhandle was known for steel, glass, nails, cigars and beer,” Roberts said. “Wheeling was a rowdy place during Prohibition, known as ‘Wide Open Wheeling.’” 

“They call this tri-state region the Ohio Valley,” she said. “We really like our Keystone and Buckeye brethren, but we’re first and foremost West Virginians, and we’re proud of our Mountain State heritage.” 

West Virginia’s eastern panhandle (Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties) are all on the southern banks of Potomac River and share boundaries with Maryland and Virginia. 

Martinsburg is the seat of Berkeley County government.

This is the strongest economic region of the state, influenced by its proximity to the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md., metropolitan areas. 

These three West Virginia counties form one of the few bright spots in the state that has gained population over the past decade. The state experienced the greatest decline in population between 2010 and 2020 in the nation – a dip of 3.2%. 

Legislators are grappling with redistricting than will reduce West Virginia’s number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives from three to two. 

The largest municipality in the eastern panhandle region is Martinsburg. Other communities of note in the three-county area include Harpers Ferry, Ransom and Shepherdstown.

Here's a view of Harpers Ferry. 

Tracy Kable, who sells real estate in Charles Town, tells her clients to relish “rural charm with urban amenities” in the eastern panhandle. 

Charles Town is home to “Happy Retreat,” the stately residence of Charles Washington, the town founder and youngest brother of President George Washington. In 2015, the nonprofit Friends of Happy Retreat partnered with the City of Charles Town to acquire, restore and preserve the estate for public use.

 

The site is envisioned as the anchor for Charles Town’s development as a heritage tourism destination.