Parkersburg, West Virginia

Parkersburg is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, West Virginia, United States. Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's fourth-most populous city and the center of the Parkersburg–Vienna metropolitan area. The city's population was 29,749 at the 2020 census, and its metro population was 89,490. The city is about 14 mi south of Marietta, Ohio.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reached Parkersburg in 1857, but lacked a crossing over the Ohio River until after the American Civil War. When the B&O completed the Parkersburg Bridge (CSX) 1868–1870 to Belpre, it was the longest railroad bridge in the world.

The Bureau of the Public Debt, an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, was relocated from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in the late 20th century and headquartered in Parkersburg. In October 2012, it was merged with the Financial Management Service to form the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

History
Settlers at first named the city Newport when they settled it in the late 18th century following the American Revolutionary War. This was part of a westward migration of settlers from parts of Virginia to the east, closer to the Atlantic Ocean. A town section was laid out on land granted to Alexander Parker for his Revolutionary War service. Virginia made grants of land to veterans for their war service. The title conflicts between Parker and the city planners of Newport were settled in 1809 in favor of his heirs. The town was renamed Parkersburg in 1810. It was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1820. It was rechartered as a city in 1860.

The town was the western terminus of both the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike and the Northwestern Turnpike. In 1857 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built a branch line south to the town from Wheeling, West Virginia. Travelers wanting to connect with the Ohio Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad, one of the east–west lines along the Ohio River, had to take a steamboat 14 miles north to Marietta, Ohio. Jacob Linville designed the railroad bridge planned by the B&O. It was constructed in 1868–1870 between Parkersburg and Belpre, Ohio, as part of the B&O's main line from Baltimore to St. Louis, Missouri. This drew traffic and trade from Marietta. Today the structure is known as the Parkersburg Bridge.

Parkersburg served as a transportation and medical center for Union forces during the American Civil War. It developed further as a transportation hub in the gas and oil boom following that war.

In the late 19th century, Parkersburg emerged as a major oil refining center serving nearby oilfields at Volcano and Burning Springs. The Camden Consolidated Oil Company, founded in 1866 by future U.S. Senator Johnson Newlon Camden, dominated the refining business and was sold to Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company in 1875. Camden became a Standard director and vice president and, along with John W. Davis, dominated West Virginia politics until the early 20th century.

In the post-World War II period, Parkersburg became one of the leading industrial centers of the Ohio Valley, producing chemicals, glass, O. Ames tools, textiles (especially American Viscose Company rayon), plastics and polymers, iron, and steel. The Bureau of the Public Debt, an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, was moved to Parkersburg in 1954 as a location midway between Chicago and Washington, D.C. that would be safe in the event of a national emergency. In October 2012, the Bureau of the Public Debt consolidated with the Financial Management Service to form the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.35 sqmi, of which 11.82 sqmi is land and 0.53 sqmi is water.

The city is situated at the confluence of the Little Kanawha and Ohio rivers. The Little Kanawha River divides the north and south sides of the city. Worthington Creek, a tributary of the Little Kanawha River, flows through the eastern part of the city.

Neighborhoods
The North End of the city includes the Beechwood, Downtown, Fairview Heights, Granada Hills, Julia-Ann Square, Meadowcrest, Oakwood Estates, Quincy Hill, Riverside, Woodland Park, North End, Worthington, and East End neighborhoods.

The southern part of the City of Parkersburg, South Parkersburg was a separate city until it became part of Parkersburg in 1950. Suburban parts of southern Wood County include Blennerhassett, Lubeck, and Washington to the southwest, with Mineral Wells located to the southeast.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers, cold winters and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Parkersburg is in transition between a humid continental climate, abbreviated Dfa on climate maps, and humid subtropical (Cfa).

2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 29,749 people, 13,119 households, and 7,305 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,524.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,028.7/km2). There were 15,246 housing units at an average density of 1,316.6 per square mile (508.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.8% White, 1.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 13,119 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.5% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.3% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 42 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 21.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 31,492 people, 13,807 households, and 8,086 families residing in the city. The population density was 2664.3 PD/sqmi. There were 15,562 housing units at an average density of 1316.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 2.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.There were 13,807 households, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.4% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2012 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 0.5% to 31,261. The population density was 2,800.5 PD/sqmi. There were 16,100 housing units at an average density of 1,362.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 1.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 14,467 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.In the city the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,120, and the median income for a family was $29,731. Males had a median income of $28,320 versus $18,203 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,820. About 23.3% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.2% of those under the age of 18 and 12.5% of those 65 and older.

Events
The Annual Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival is held in June, and is an international festival featuring traditional dance and music and an international marketplace. The Parkersburg Homecoming Festival is held in August and features a parade, fireworks, half-marathon, competitions and entertainment.

The Taste of Parkersburg is an event held around Memorial Day each year since 2006 which features food and drinks from local vendors.

The Downtown Throwdown is a BBQ and beer festival held in September. It is co-hosted by Downtown PKB and the Parkersburg Area Jaycees and was started in 2014.

Tourism
Several museums are located in Parkersburg, including the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History, the Henry Cooper House, the Oil and Gas Museum, the Sumnerite African-American History Museum, the Artcraft Studio and the Veterans Museum of Mid-Ohio Valley.

Parks and recreation
There are several parks in the area, including Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, Bicentennial Park, Corning Park, Point Park, Southwood Park, Quincy Park, City Park, Johnson T. Janes Park, Friendship Park, Fort Boreman Historical Park, Mountwood Park and Fries Park.

Sports
The Wood County Ravens, a semi-professional football team, was based in the city. The Ravens were a part of the now defunct Mountain State Football League.

Parkersburg was home to the Ohio Valley Redcoats, a minor league baseball team, until 1998. The city was in negotiations to bring professional baseball back to Parkersburg but those negotiations fell through because of lack of support from the community.

In 2008, the city and its three high schools placed second in ESPN's TitleTown USA competition. By 2008, the city's high school athletic programs had amassed 192 overall state championships.

Pollution
High levels of PFOA, also known as C8, originating in landfills used by the DuPont/Chemours Washington Works chemical company have been noted in Parkersburg drinking water. Despite a 2004 class-action legal settlement obligating DuPont to install a drinking water filtration plant if asked, local water district officials have not, as of 2016, asked for one.

Higher education

 * Parkersburg West Virginia floodwall.jpg]]Mountain State College, a private, for-profit, two-year college, is located in the city.
 * West Virginia University at Parkersburg, a public college, is located on the outskirts of the city.
 * Parkersburg Bible College, a private Christian school
 * Centurion Bible College

Primary and secondary
Parkersburg is the home of the Parkersburg High School Big Reds, Parkersburg South High School Patriots, and the Parkersburg Catholic High School Crusaders. The Wood County Technical Center and the Caperton Center for Applied Technology is part of Wood County Public Schools. There were, as of May 2020, five middle schools and 16 elementary schools dispersed throughout the city.

Media
The Parkersburg News and Parkersburg Sentinel were the city's two major daily newspapers until 2009 when they combined to form one daily edition, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel . The same company also publishes The Marietta Times and Graffiti, West Virginia's alternative news magazine.

There are many radio stations broadcasting from Parkersburg, including 106.1 Z106 (WRZZ),102.1 The River (WRVB), U.S. 107 WNUS, MIX 100 (WDMX), V96.9 (WVVV), WXIL, Froggy 99.1, 103.1 The Bear, and WPKM 96.3 FM "the Beat" which is the college radio station of West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

WTAP, the local NBC affiliate, is the main local television station. WIYE-LD (CBS) and WOVA-LD (Fox / CW+) are sister stations.

Transportation
Parkersburg is served by two major highways, Interstate 77 and US 50. Other routes through the city include WV routes 2, 14, 47, 68, 95 and 618.

Parkersburg is served by Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport, with three flights a day Monday through Friday from Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Parkersburg is served by freight rail. Passenger rail is no longer available. Into the 1960s, several major long distance train routes made stops in Parkersburg. These included the Baltimore and Ohio's National Limited to St. Louis to the west and Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Jersey City to the east. From 1976 to 1981 Amtrak operated the Shenandoah (Amtrak train), serving Cincinnati to the west and Washington, D.C., to the east.

Notable people

 * Allen Appel, novelist
 * Walt Barnes, professional football player and actor
 * Dick Biddle, college football coach
 * Harman Blennerhassett, ally of Aaron Burr and owner of Blennerhassett Island
 * Zac Boggs, soccer player
 * Sybil Carmen, Ziegfeld Girl and silent film actress
 * Edwin Catmull, president of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios
 * Jim Dawson, cultural historian
 * Paul Dooley, Hollywood character actor
 * Leah Bodine Drake, poet
 * Edmund Burke Fairfield, 12th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan and Chancellor of University of Nebraska
 * Chase Fieler, professional basketball player
 * Dave Foggin, member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, born in Parkersburg
 * Paul Goldsmith, member of Motorcycle Hall of Fame
 * Linda Goodman, astrology author
 * Tommy Hanlon, Jr., Australian television presenter
 * Dick Hoblitzel, outfielder in Major League Baseball
 * John D. Hoblitzell Jr., U.S. Senator, born and raised in Parkersburg
 * Homer A. Holt, justice of West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
 * Cy Hungerford, political cartoonist for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 * Jacob B. Jackson, Governor of West Virginia 1881–85
 * John Jay Jackson, Jr., U.S. federal judge
 * Lily Irene Jackson (1848–1928), artist and daughter of John Jay Jackson, Jr.
 * Robert Lichello, author
 * Tom Lopienski, NFL player
 * Leon Claire Metz, historian, author, documentary personality, lecturer on American West
 * Hunter Holmes Moss, Jr., Republican U.S. Representative
 * Earle "Greasy" Neale (1891–1973), professional football and baseball player
 * Harold Newhart, Olympic gymnast
 * Gary Null, nutritionist and author
 * Devon Odessa, actress and film producer
 * Buck Rinehart, Republican, Mayor of Columbus, Ohio
 * Bill Robinson, jazz singer
 * Morgan Spurlock, Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker, humorist, television producer, screenwriter, and political activist
 * Mick Staton, Republican, U.S. Representative
 * William E. Stevenson, Governor of West Virginia, 1869–71
 * Brenton Strange, NFL Player for the Jacksonville Jaguars
 * Felix Stump, admiral in U.S. Navy and Commander, United States Pacific Fleet
 * Nick Swisher, professional baseball player and Steve's son
 * Steve Swisher, professional baseball player and Nick's father
 * Peter G. Van Winkle, Republican U.S. Senator
 * Richard Watts, Jr., film critic for New York Herald Tribune
 * Gibby Welch, professional football player
 * Albert B. White, Governor of West Virginia, 1901–05
 * Deron Williams, professional basketball player
 * Jay Wolfe, West Virginia State Senator and U.S. Senate candidate

In popular culture

 * The Mark Ruffalo film Dark Waters, released in 2019, was based in events mainly from the City of Parkersburg.
 * Parkersburg was the set for the 1962 television series It's a Man's World.
 * Other films shot in the city are Salvage and The Barbecue.
 * Parkersburg was featured in a 2013 episode of the NBC post-apocalyptic science fiction television drama series Revolution.
 * Emo/Post-Rock/Indie band The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die references the city in their song "Blank//Worker" from the 2021 album Illusory Walls.