Wheeling, West Virginia

Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It lies along the Ohio River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains within the state's northern panhandle. Wheeling is the fifth-most populous city in West Virginia and the most populous city in the northern panhandle, with a population of 27,062 at the 2020 census. The Wheeling metropolitan area had 139,513 residents in 2020.

The city was settled in 1769 on land contested between the Province of Pennsylvania and the Colony of Virginia. During the American Civil War, Wheeling hosted important meetings called the Wheeling Conventions, which led to the separation of West Virginia from Virginia. Wheeling served as the state capital of West Virginia from 1861 to 1870, and again from 1875 to 1885.

Wheeling grew into a manufacturing center in the late nineteenth century because of its location along major transportation routes, including the Ohio River, the National Road, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. After World War II, heavy industry declined, and the city's major industries now include healthcare, education, legal services, entertainment, tourism, and energy. The city is located about 60 miles (97 km) west of Pittsburgh and 120 miles (190 km) east of Columbus via Interstate 70.

History

The name "Wheeling" may come from a phrase meaning "place of the head" or "place of the skull." This name possibly refers to an old story about a settler or prisoner whose head was shown at a special spot. Native Americans lived in the area for thousands of years before European settlers arrived.

The area was first explored by the French. Later, important figures like George Washington helped survey the land. In 1769, Ebenezer Zane claimed the land and started the first permanent settlement called Zanesburg. By 1795, Wheeling became an official town and later grew into a city.

Fort Henry, originally named Fort Fincastle, was a key defense spot. During attacks by Native Americans and British soldiers, brave defenders like Betty Zane helped keep the fort safe. In the early 1800s, important roads and bridges were built, connecting Wheeling to other places and helping it grow. The city became a busy place for trade and travel.

Wheeling played a big role during the Civil War, supporting the new state of West Virginia. In the late 1800s, it became known for making iron and steel products. Over time, the city faced changes in industry and population but has worked to preserve its history and architecture.

Geography

Wheeling is a city in the northern part of West Virginia. It is located along the Ohio River and is part of an area where three states meet: Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. This region is often called the Ohio Valley.

The city covers an area of 16.01 square miles, with most of it being land and a smaller part being water. A small river called Wheeling Creek flows through the city and joins the Ohio River in the downtown area. Wheeling is situated on the West Virginia side of the river and also includes an island in the middle of the river called Wheeling Island.

The city has many different neighborhoods, including Arbordale, Benwood (mostly in Marshall County), Bethlehem, Center Wheeling, and many others listed in the table.

Wheeling has a climate where it can get quite warm in the summer and cool in the winter, with rain falling fairly evenly throughout the year.

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Wheeling had a population of 27,052. The median age was 44.2 years, with 19.1% of residents under 18 and 23.2% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 94 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 90.3 males aged 18 and over.

Most people lived in urban areas, making up 86.9% of the population, while 13.1% lived in rural areas. There were 12,359 households, with 22.6% having children under 18. About 35.2% were married couples, while many households had only one person living alone.

2010 census

In 2010, the city had 28,486 people and 12,816 households. The population density was 2,065.7 people per square mile. Most people identified as White, with smaller groups of African American, Native American, Asian, and others. Hispanic or Latino people made up a small portion of the population.

Households were often made up of individuals, with 40.4% having only one person. The average household size was 2.11, and families were slightly larger at 2.84 people. The median age was 45.2 years, with many people aged between 45 and 64.

2000 census

The 2000 census recorded 31,419 people in 13,719 households. The population density was 2,258.4 people per square mile. The city was mostly White, with smaller numbers of African American, Native American, Asian, and others, including a tiny number of Pacific Islander. Hispanic or Latino people were a small part of the population.

Many households were made up of individuals, with 38.3% having only one person. The average household size was 2.17, and families were a bit larger at 2.89 people. The median age was 42 years, with a good mix of age groups. The median household income was $27,388, and many families lived below the poverty line.

Arts and culture

West Virginia Independence Hall was important in 1861 when people in northern Virginia decided not to leave the United States and formed the new state of West Virginia. The oldest building there is Shepherd Hall (Monument Place), built in 1798.

Centre Market has two buildings from the 1800s that now house shops and restaurants.

Wheeling has one of twelve Madonna of the Trail monuments that honor the spirit of early women pioneers in the United States.

The first memorial in West Virginia for those who died in the Vietnam War was dedicated in Wheeling in 1986.

Music and theater

Wheeling has a rich history of live music and radio. The Capitol Theatre, the largest theatre in West Virginia, opened in 1928 and has hosted famous performers like Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, and Bob Dylan. The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra performs there.

The Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre has produced plays for over 35 years. The Victoria Theater, West Virginia’s oldest theater, once hosted the WWVA Jamboree, a long-running country music show.

Live music is also enjoyed at the Wheeling Heritage Port amphitheatre during the warmer months, where the park hosts many events and attracts thousands of visitors.

Sports

Wheeling, called Nail City, has two main sports teams: the Wheeling Nailers hockey team and the Wheeling Miners football team. The Nailers play their games at the WesBanco Arena, and they are part of the ECHL. The Miners play in the National Arena League.

In the past, Wheeling had another team called the Wheeling Wildcats, but they stopped playing after the 2009 season. High school football and soccer games are held at Wheeling Island Stadium. The city also hosts the basketball championship for the Mountain East Conference, which began in the 2013–14 school year.

Parks and recreation

Wheeling has several beautiful parks for fun activities, including Oglebay Park and Wheeling Park. Oglebay Park has five golf courses, a swimming pool, the Oglebay Mansion, and more. It is also home to the Good Zoo, the only zoo in West Virginia approved by a top group of zoos and aquariums.

Wheeling also has a special place called the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, where people can watch greyhound races and play games. In 2007, the city opened its first concrete skateboard park, which was built by experts from Seattle, Washington. This park has bowls and street-style features and is open all day and night.

Government

Wheeling, West Virginia, uses a special way of running its city called the Manager-Mayor Plan. In this plan, people vote for a mayor who leads meetings of the City Council. The Council has six members, each representing a different part of the city, and they serve for four years. The Council also chooses leaders for different groups that help make rules for planning, building, and traffic.

Right now, the mayor of Wheeling is Denny Magruder, and the city manager is Robert Herron. The City Council includes Tony Assarro, Ben Seidler, Connie Cain, Jerry Sklavounakis (who is the Vice-Mayor), Ty Thorngate, and Dave Palmer. Their terms started on July 1, 2024, after elections on May 14, 2024, and the next elections will be in 2028.

City flag

Wheeling’s current flag was chosen on September 4, 2018, to celebrate the city’s 250th anniversary the next year. The flag has two blue stripes for Wheeling Creek and the Ohio River, with a white stripe in between. The three stripes stand for the three ways people traveled in Wheeling’s history: by river, road, and train. Five stars in the white stripe show five important times in the city’s past.

Education

Wheeling has many schools for children and adults. The public schools are run by the county and include nine elementary schools, four middle schools, and one high school named Wheeling Park High School. There are also private schools such as Wheeling Central Catholic High School, Linsly School, and Wheeling Country Day School.

For higher education, Wheeling has several options. Wheeling University is a private university and the only Catholic college in West Virginia. West Virginia Northern Community College offers job training and community development. Nearby, West Liberty University and Bethany College provide additional choices for students.

Media

See also: List of newspapers in West Virginia, List of radio stations in West Virginia, and List of television stations in West Virginia

Wheeling is close to Pittsburgh, so it gets many of the same TV and radio stations. Local TV channels include WTRF-TV Channel 7, W30CO-D Channel 30, and WTOV-TV Channel 9 in nearby Steubenville, Ohio. Cable TV in Wheeling is provided by Comcast.

The city has several radio stations, such as WWVA 1170 AM, which is a powerful station heard along the East Coast at night. Other local stations include WVLY 1370 AM, WKKX 1600 AM, WVKF 95.7 FM, WKWK 97.3 FM, WOVK 98.7 FM, and WEGW 107.5 FM. There is also a small, listener-supported station called WDUQ-LP, and a student-run station, WPHP 91.9, run by students at Wheeling Park High School.

Wheeling has two main newspapers: The Intelligencer and the Wheeling News-Register, both owned by Ogden Newspapers Inc.. Another nearby paper, The Times-Leader from Martins Ferry, Ohio, also covers local news. The magazine In Wheeling comes out four times a year, and websites like Weelunk and Dateline: Wheeling offer more news about the city.

Transportation

Roads and bridges

Interstate 70 and its spur Interstate 470 go through the city from east to west, connecting it with suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the east and Ohio to the west. U.S. Route 40/National Road links downtown with neighborhoods to the east. West Virginia Route 2 connects Wheeling with Moundsville to the south and Weirton to the north. U.S. Route 250 also runs through the city.

The Fort Henry Bridge and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge carry I-70 and I-470 over the Ohio River. The historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge, finished in 1849 and part of National Road, connects downtown and Wheeling Island; it is now closed for safety reasons.

Bus

Bus travel to many places in North America is available from Wheeling through Greyhound Lines. The bus terminal, called the Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center, was built with $11.1 million in federal funds.

The East Ohio Authority and the Ohio Valley Regional Transit Authority (OVRTA) share the Intermodal Transportation Center and provide regional bus services through West Virginia and Eastern Ohio.

Wheeling had streetcars from the 1880s until 1943. Buses took over because they were less expensive to run.

Air

The city is served by the Wheeling Ohio County Airport for small planes and by Pittsburgh International Airport for airline flights.

Popular culture

The song "Freekstyle" is set in Wheeling. Most of the movie The Gun on Second Street was filmed there too.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Wheeling, West Virginia

Wheeling, West Virginia, has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some of these individuals have made important contributions in areas like sports, entertainment, and politics. The city continues to be a place where interesting and accomplished people live and grow.