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WV County Quizzes
<< Here are the topics on this page; Click to jump/scroll down >>
"INTRODUCTION" – West Virginia County Quizzes Page
Use A Map For Help . . .
"West Virginia County Facts" – WV.GOV
IT'S QUIZ TIME!
"BORDER STATES" – West Virginia County Quiz
Kentucky – (Tug Fork / Big Sandy River)
Maryland – (North Branch / Potomac River)
Ohio – (Ohio River)
"WV NAMES and OTHER STATES" – West Virginia County Quiz
"RIVERS and STREAMS"- West Virginia Counties Quiz
Little Kanawha River
Guyandotte River
"Great" Kanawha River
Gauley River
Greenbrier River
Coal River
Monongahela River
West Fork River
Tygart Valley River
Cheat River
Shavers Fork
South Branch
Cacapon River
Shenandoah River
"THE PANHANDLES" – WV County Quiz
Northern Panhandle
"Far Eastern" Panhandle
"Near Eastern" Panhandle
"WHICH MATCH?" – West Virginia 55 Counties Quiz
"RAILROADS" – West Virginia County Quiz
N&W
"TOURISM REGIONS" – West Virginia Counties Quiz
New River – Greenbrier Valley
Hatfield-McCoy Mountains
Metro Valley
Mid Ohio Valley
Mountaineer Country
[Far] Eastern Panhandle
Potomac Highlands
"ROADS and HIGHWAYS" – West Virginia Counties Quiz
Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike
US Rt. 50 – Northwestern Turnpike
US Rt. 60 – Midland Trail / James River and Kanawha Turnpike
US Rt. 52
US Rt. 119
US Rt. 219 – Seneca Trail
WV Rt. 3
WV Rt. 10
"EASY TO CONFUSE" – West Virginia County Quiz
"BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!" – West Virginia 55 County Quizzes
"ANSWERS" – (BUT ONLY A FEW) – WV County Quizzes
Bonus Question Answers
West Virginia 55 Counties and County Seats – Alphabetical List
So you think it's difficult to learn 55 counties? Yes, MD would be easier with only 24 counties. But PA? 67. OH? 88. KY? 120. VA? 133! 55 doesn't seem all that bad now, does it? Besides . . .
Since we first came over the mountains, being a West Virginian has seldom (if ever!) been easy. But . . .
We don't complain. We do good work.
It's what we do. It's who we are.
. . . Because we are NOT going to learn WV counties and county seats in alphabetical order. (Boring!!)
Click here to open a pdf map for help tracing rivers, highways, and railroads. Or use another map of your choosing.
Quick facts for each West Virginia county, including; Year Founded, County Seat, 2005 Population, Cities and Towns, and a link to the US Census' website for current West Virginia county information.
Visit WV.GOV's "WV County Information" Website
The headwaters of the Tug Fork are in McDowell County which then flows northwestward to meet the Levisa Fork at Fort Gay to form the Big Sandy River which, in turn, flows north to the Ohio River. The Tug Fork and Big Sandy form the border between WV and KY.
– What WV counties border KY?
– What city or town is the county seat for each one?
– Which county seats, if any, are located along the banks of the Tug Fork/Big Sandy River?
– Through which, if any, flood control dams/reservoirs do these streams flow?
VA is sometimes called our "Mother State." WV has the longest border with it than any other state, and only a very few miles of it is a river or stream. Much of the border follows the Eastern Continental Divide
– Which WV counties border VA?
– Which county seats, if any, are along the border?
The North Branch of the Potomac River begins at the Fairfax Stone, then flows northeastward. The confluence of the North and South Branches near Green Spring creates the Potomac River, which continues eastward to Washington, DC and the Chesapeake Bay. The North Branch and the Potomac River form most of the border between WV and MD.
– What WV counties border MD?
– Which county seats, if any, are located along the banks of the North Branch or Potomac River?
Bonus: What counties, if any, border MD but are NOT along either stream? What city or town is the county seat for each one?
The Mason-Dixon Line forms approximately one half of the border between WV and PA.
– Which WV counties border PA?
– Which WV county seats, if any, are along the border?
The Ohio River is formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers at Pittsburgh and is the border between WV and OH. WV owns the river to the "low water mark" of 1793 on the OH bank.
– What WV counties border Ohio?
– Which county seats, if any, ARE NOT located along the banks of the Ohio River?
– Through which, if any, flood control dams/reservoirs does the Ohio River flow?
– Which three WV counties have the same name as a State? (One of the county names is just part of the State name.)
– Which four WV counties have the same name as a State Capital? (One of the county names is just part of the Capital name.)
– Which WV county seat has the same name as a State Capital?
– All five states that border WV have a county named Washington. Three of those Washington counties even border WV. But WV does not have a Washington county. Why not?
For each River or Stream, answer the following questions:
– Through which WV counties does it flow?
– Which WV county seats, if any, are located along its banks?
– Through which, if any, flood control dams/reservoirs does it flow?
The Little Kanawha River has its headwaters near the community of Kanawha Head in southern Upshur County, and was once navigable for over half its length with a series of (no longer functioning) locks and dams.
The Guyandotte River is formed by the confluence of three streams: the Winding Gulf, Stonecoal Creek, and Devils Fork, and meanders its way northward to the Ohio River.
The Great Kanawha River begins at the confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers at Gauley Bridge.
The Gauley River has its headwaters in the "Birthplace of Rivers." Flowing mostly westward, it gathers in a number of other rivers, Meadow, Cranberry, Cherry, and Williams, and features dozens of popular whitewater rapids.
The New River is actually one of the world's oldest rivers. It is one of very few rivers which flow into WV, being formed in NC, then heading north through VA. It has a rich geologic and cultural history.
The Greenbrier River is one of the longest in WV and the longest in the Eastern US without a dam. It is a tributary of the New River and has great recreational value.
The Elk River begins in southern Pocahontas County, in the "Birthplace of Rivers" proposed National Monument.
There are three Coal Rivers: Coal River, the Big Coal, and the Little Coal. The Big Coal and Little Coal have their headwaters in Raleigh County and wind through Boone County and Lincoln County. Then at Alum Creek, in Kanawha County, the rivers join to form the mainstem Coal River, which flows to the Kanawha River in St. Albans.
The Monongahela River is formed at the confluence of the West Fork and Tygart Valley Rivers at Fairmont and then flows into PA. WV has one of the greatest concentrations of north flowing rivers in the world, and the "Mon" and most of its tributaries are among them.
The West Fork River is formed near Rock Cave in Upshur County.
The headwaters of the Tygart Valley River are near Snowshoe Ski Resort.
The Cheat is formed by the confluence of Shavers Fork and Black Fork. Black Fork is fed by the Blackwater River and by the Dry, Glady, and Laurel Forks — these are traditionally referred to as the "Five Forks of Cheat." Because only the hydroelectric Lake Lynn Dam, which creates Lake Lynn (Cheat Lake), impedes its flow, the Cheat watershed, including all five forks, is the largest in the Eastern US without a flood control dam–though the US Army Corps of Engineers has long had plans to create one.
Shavers Fork begins at Thorny Flat, highest peak of Cheat Mountain (4,848 ft) and the site of Snowshoe Mountain ski resort. It then flows generally north-northeastwardly through the valley between Cheat Mountain (to the west) and Shavers Mountain (to the east).
Laurel Fork rises on a divide separating the watershed of the Cheat River from that of the Greenbrier, and flows in a meandering course between Middle Mountain and Rich Mountain, through the Monongahela National Forest, to its mouth at Dry Fork, approximately four miles northwest of Harman. The last seven miles are characterized by continuous Class 3 rapids.
The Blackwater River is so named because the tannins of spruce and hemlock trees impart a tea or amber color to its water. Its headwaters are in Canaan Valley State Park, meanders through the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, falls 62 feet over Blackwater Falls and enters the eight-mile long Blackwater Canyon. The Blackwater River joins the Dry Fork to form the Black Fork which then flows to help form the Cheat River.
The Potomac River is formed at the confluence of the North and South Branches near Green Spring.
The North Branch of the Potomac River begins at the Fairfax Stone.
The South Branch of the Potomac River begins in Highlands County, VA along the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike, then flows north along US Rt. 220, and enters WV.
The Cacapon River is formed where the Lost River becomes above ground again, then flows north to enter the Potomac at Great Cacapon.
The Lost River is so named because it becomes "lost" when it flows into a cave at "The Sinks." It reemerges above ground as The Cacapon River.
The Shenandoah River flows through the far eastern edge of the Far Eastern Panhandle to join the Potomac at Harpers Ferry.
In addition to "The Mountain State" and "Almost Heaven," West Virginia has also been called "The Panhandle State." Other states also have panhandles, but only WV has two.
Most of the Northern Panhandle lies between OH and PA and is highly industrialized. (Bonus: Why?)
– What WV counties are in the Northern Panhandle? (Because of the similarities in geography, history, topography, and industry, many people define the Northern Panhandle as not just the four most northern counties, but to also include the next one or two counties to the south along the Ohio River)
– Which of the county seats, if any, are located along the banks of the Ohio River?
Some people believe WV's Eastern Panhandle consists of parts or all of eight counties. Others believe it is only made up of the three furthest east – so we'll call those three the "Far Eastern" Panhandle. Because of their proximity to the metropolitan areas of the East Coast, two of the counties are becoming more urbanized, while the third retains much of its rural character. (Bonus: Why?)
– What are the three WV counties in the "Far Eastern" Panhandle?
– Which WV county seats, if any, are located along the route of the original B&O railroad?
The eight counties of both the "Far Eastern" and "Near Eastern" Panhandles are the only WV counties that are EAST of the Eastern Continental Divide. (A small portion of Monroe County is also on the Eastern side.) The "Near Eastern" panhandle is an area of WV that is mostly agricultural. (Bonus: Why?)
– What five WV counties are in the "Near Eastern" Panhandle?
– Which WV county seats, if any, are located along the South Branch of the Potomac River?
– How about the North Branch?
Some WV county seats have names similar to the county name. Others can fool you.
Here is list of WV counties and county seats that do, or do not, go together, even though it would "make sense" if they did.
– Which match? – For those that do NOT match, which are the correct county seats and the correct counties?
Pleasants
Swift (Kidding!)
Webster Springs
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (now part of CSX) was built to connect the port at Baltimore to the Ohio River and beyond, and to compete with the Erie Canal and the Pennsylvania Railroad and Canals in carrying freight and passengers to the Midwest. The route enters WV at Harpers Ferry and travels to Grafton (partly through MD) and on to Wheeling. Rails to Parkersburg and New Martinsville were laid later. The original route from Fairmont to Moundsville that roughly paralleled US Rt. 250 has been largely abandoned. The route from Clarksburg to Parkersburg is now the North Bend Rail Trail. The route from Clarksburg to New Martinsville remains. AMTRAK's Capitol Limited passenger train travels in WV between Harpers Ferry and Cumberland MD.
– Through what WV counties did the B&O, including its various routes westward from Grafton, pass?
– Which county seats, if any, are located along its path(s)?
The Chesapeake and Ohio (now part of CSX) "mainline" was built after the Civil War, and enters WV near White Sulphur Springs then follows the Greenbrier, New, and Great Kanawha Rivers, and the historic Teays Valley to Huntington and Kenova where it crosses the Big Sandy River into KY. Along the way, it travels through the Great Bend Tunnel of John Henry fame, as well as the New River Gorge, and carries AMTRAK's Cardinal passenger train. The C&O had/has numerous spur lines across southern WV, and owned The Greenbrier Resort for almost 100 years, until 2009, when it was sold to Jim Justice.
– Through which WV counties does the C&O mainline pass?
– Which county seats, if any, are located along its path?
The Norfolk and Western (now part of Norfolk Southern) was developed to open the coalfields of western VA and southwest WV, entering WV at the confluence of the East and New Rivers, then north and west to follow the Tug Fork and Big Sandy Rivers to cross the Ohio River. This has now become part of the "Heartland Corridor." The N&W also had/has numerous branch lines to coal mines.
– Through which WV counties does the NS Heartland Corridor pass?
<<More about Current WV Railroads, as well as the History of WV Railroads is on the MH3WV "Transportation" page.>>
What are the WV counties in each Tourism Region, and what are the county seats?
<<Information and links for Tourism Regions are on the MH3WV "Special Places" page.>>
For each Road/Highway, answer the following questions:
– Through which WV counties does it pass?
– Which WV county seats, if any, are located along its path?
The Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike was one of the earliest routes to travel into and across what is now WV. From Staunton VA in the east, it followed what is now US Rt. 250, then US Rt. 33, and finally WV Rt. 47 to its western terminus in Parkersburg.
US Rt. 50 stretches across the entire United States from coast to coast. In NV, it is often called "The Loneliest Road in America." But in WV, it is an important connector. It has two sections in WV separated by a short section in MD.
Like all of the east/west roads and turnpikes (and railroads!) across WV, US Rt. 60 connected the Eastern Seaboard with the Ohio River and beyond.
From Huntington to Bluefield, US Rt. 52 traverses southwest WV. The portion north of Williamson is known as the Tolsia (Tug-Ohio-Levisa-Sandy Improvement Association) Highway; between Williamson and Bluefield, it is (slowly) being upgraded as the King Coal Expressway.
US Rt. 33 travels east and west across WV between Virginia and the Ohio River.
US Rt. 19 traces its north/south route through the middle of WV, including over the New River Gorge Bridge.
US Rt. 119 enters northern WV near US Rt. 19, but follows a very different path southward.
Bonus: Where in WV do US Rt. 19 and US Rt. 119 meet and/or cross? (Hint: There are two places.)
US Rt. 219 is also a North/South highway, but east of Rts. 19 and 119.
US Rt. 220 in the "Near Eastern" Panhandle is a north/south route, even though even numbered US highways are normally east/west and odd numbered roads are normally north/south.
US Rt. 250 cuts diagonally across central and northern WV from VA to Wheeling.
Bonus: Many important historical places are located along US Rt. 250. Name some of them.
WV Rt. 3 has its western terminus at WV Rt. 10 at West Hamlin then very roughly parallels WV Rt. 10 across southern WV, but its eastern terminus is further east.
WV Rt. 9 connects the three counties in the "Far Eastern" panhandle.
WV Rt. 10 connects Huntington and Princeton, carries a great amount of traffic, and is not an easy drive.
The northern end of WV Rt. 16 is at St. Marys and the southern end is at the southernmost point in WV. Most of its route in the three most southern counties through which it passes is gradually being upgraded as the Coalfields Expressway.
WV Rt. 20 is one of the longest and "crookedest" roads in WV as it winds its way from near New Martinsville to Bluewell.
Bonus!! WV Rt. 20 passes many interesting places. Name some of them.
The endpoints of WV Rt. 92 are at Reedsville in the north, and White Sulphur Springs in the south. In between are some very scenic stretches of highway.
– Grafton and Middlebourne are the county seats of counties that have very similar names – one has just one more letter than the other. What are the two counties? Which county seat is further north?
– Union, West Union, and Weston are the county seats of which counties? Which county seat is furthest west?
– Martinsburg and New Martinsville are the county seats of which counties? Which county seat is further south?
– Charles Town and Charleston are the county seats of which counties? Which county seat is further north?
– Petersburg and Peterstown. Which one of these is a county seat? Which is further east?
– Williamson and Williamstown. Which one of these is a county seat? Which is further west?
– Charleston, WV and Charleston, SC are often confused by those who don't live in the area. Sometimes, airlines even send people to the wrong city! An easy way to distinguish them is to call our Charleston "Charlie West" and the other "Charlie South." But which city has the largest population? And which is really further west?
– Which WV counties have the same name as the surname of a US President? What are the county seats of those counties?
– Which WV county seats have the same name as the surname (or includes the surname) of a US President? What are the counties?
– Which WV counties have names of only one syllable? And what are their county seats?
– Which WV county seats have names of only one syllable? And what are the names of the counties?
– Which WV counties have county seats with names containing the word "New?" Which county seat is further east?
– What other WV counties have county seats with names of two words?
– Which WV county seats have names that end in "-burg," "-ville," "-town," and "-springs?" And what are the names of the counties?
– How did your county, its county seat, your city/town/community, and school get their names?
(N) = Nearby
Maryland – North Branch / Potomac River
"Bonus: What WV counties, if any, border MD but are NOT along either stream [North Branch and Potomac Rivers]? What city or town is the county seat for each one?"
Preston – Kingwood
"The Northern Panhandle lies between OH and PA and is highly industrialized. (Bonus: Why?)"
Some reasons: Early Railroad (B&O) and Road (National Road/US Rt. 40) connections to the east and eventually to the west, the Ohio River for transportation and connection to the industrial hub of Pittsburgh, readily available natural resources (including water, coal, salt, gas, oil), and a productive workforce.
"…two of the counties [of the Far Eastern Panhandle] are becoming more urbanized, while the third retains much of its rural character. (Bonus: Why?)
Geographically, Morgan County is further west, and separated from the rest of the Far Eastern Panhandle by hills and ridges with few connecting roads.
"The Near Eastern Panhandle is an area of WV that is mostly agricultural. (Bonus: Why?)"
Geographic isolation has contributed, as well as the topography and the preferences of local residents. (Change will likely occur with the completion of Appalachian Corridor H – US Rt. 48 – to the VA state line and eventually to Interstates 81 and 66.)
US Rt. 19 / 119
Morgantown and Weston
Fort Allegheny
Camp Bartow
Cheat Summit Fort
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (N)
Cass Scenic Railroad (N)
Camp Elkwater
Tygart Valley Homesteads
Beverly Historic District / Heritage Center
Elkins
Graceland & Halliehurst
Davis and Elkins College
Rich Mountain Battlefield (N)
Laurel Hill Battlefield
Audra State Park (N)
Philippi Battlefield
Philippi Covered Bridge & Historic District
Alderson-Broaddus University
Anna Jarvis Birthplace
Tygart Lake and Dam (N)
Tygart Lake State Park (N)
Mothers Day Shrine (N)
Grafton Rail Yards (N)
West Virginia and Grafton National Cemeteries (N)
Fairmont State University
Barrackville Covered Bridge
Original Route of the B&O Railroad
Monongah (N)
Fish Creek Covered Bridge
Roseby's (Rosbby's) Rock (N)
New Vrindabin – Palace of Gold
Grave Creek Mound & Delf Norona Museum
Former WV Penitentary
WV Independence Hall
Wheeling Suspension Bridge
WV CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) Museum
Pringle Tree Park
WV Wesleyan College
Carrollton Covered Bridge
WV Wildlife Center
Holly River State Park
Camp Washington Carver / Clifftop (N)
Babcock State Park (N)
New River Gorge National River
Sandstone Visitor Center
Sandstone Falls
John Henry Park (N)
Bluestone Lake and Dam
Bluestone National Scenic River
Pipestem State Park
Concord University
Bluefield State College (N)
Pinnacle Rock State Park
Cabell
Doddridge
McDowell
Monongalia
Roane
Moorefield
Moundsville
Marlinton
Middlebourne
Buckhannon
WV County Quiz Games
West Virginia County Quiz Games / WV County Quizzes
WV Counties Quiz / West Virginia Counties Quiz
WV County Seats / West Virginia County Seats
West Virginia 55 Counties Quiz Games / WV 55 Counties Quiz
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