Mineral County is a county in West Virginia, United States, on the North Branch Potomac River across from Cumberland, Maryland. It had a population of 26,938 at the 2020 census and covers 329 square miles (850 km2) centred near 39°25′N 78°56′W.
Keyser is the county seat, and its postal code is 26726. The county has 3 incorporated cities/towns, 5 additional ZIP-code post office communities, and numerous smaller unincorporated places; it observes Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Mineral County
Mineral County’s settlements range from the small city of Keyser down to rural crossroads along the Potomac and New Creek valleys. The table below marks incorporated Cities and Towns, Census-Designated Places (CDP), and Unincorporated communities with no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyser | City · seat | — | 26726 |
| Fort Ashby | CDP | — | 26719 |
| Ridgeley | Town | — | 26753 |
| Piedmont | City | — | 26750 |
| Wiley Ford | CDP | — | 26767 |
| Short Gap | CDP | — | — |
| Elk Garden | Town | — | 26717 |
| Burlington | Unincorp. | — | 26710 |
| New Creek | Unincorp. | — | 26743 |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barnum | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beryl | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blaine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carpendale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Cliff | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chaffee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Claysville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dans Run | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Emoryville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forge Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gerstell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harrison | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hartmansville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Headsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Knobmount | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Laurel Dale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Limestone | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Markwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Patterson Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ridgeville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sulphur City | Unincorp. | — | — |
Fort Ashby and Wiley Ford are unincorporated but recognized census-designated places large enough to carry their own ZIP; the remaining crossroads communities share a neighboring post office and have no ZIP of their own. Short Gap is a CDP that shares Fort Ashby’s 26719 ZIP.
ZIP Codes
- 26726 — Keyser (also serves the surrounding Potomac State College area)
- 26719 — Fort Ashby
- 26753 — Ridgeley
- 26750 — Piedmont
- 26717 — Elk Garden
- 26710 — Burlington
- 26743 — New Creek
- 26767 — Wiley Ford
Short Gap shares Fort Ashby’s 26719 ZIP; the smaller unincorporated hamlets use whichever of the above eight post offices is nearest.
Geography
Mineral County sits in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle region, where the North Branch Potomac River forms the county’s northern border with Maryland. The terrain is a mix of Potomac River lowlands around Keyser and Ridgeley and forested Allegheny ridges rising toward “the Pinnacle” at 3,104 feet. New Creek and Patterson Creek drain the county’s interior valleys, and the Jennings Randolph Lake reservoir straddles the West Virginia–Maryland line along the North Branch.
Mineral County borders Grant County to the south, Hardy County to the southeast, Hampshire County to the east, and, across the Potomac in Maryland, Allegany County and Garrett County to the north.
Demographics
Mineral County had 26,938 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 82 people per square mile. Keyser is the county’s largest community, followed by the Fort Ashby census-designated place. Median household income runs below the West Virginia median of $55,948, reflecting the county’s rural, formerly coal- and rail-dependent economy.
Economy & Local Life
Keyser and Fort Ashby anchor the county’s industrial parks, with manufacturing, healthcare, and retail as the leading employers. Potomac State College of West Virginia University, a two-year branch campus in Keyser, is one of the county’s largest institutions and draws students from across the Eastern Panhandle. The Cumberland, Maryland metropolitan area across the Potomac provides additional retail and healthcare access for county residents.
History
Mineral County was formed on February 1, 1866, from part of Hampshire County, in the years immediately following West Virginia’s split from Virginia during the Civil War. It takes its name from the region’s mineral reserves, particularly the coal deposits that were mined along the New Creek and Patterson Creek valleys through the late 19th and 20th centuries. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s line through Keyser made the town a rail hub, and the college now called Potomac State College was founded there in 1901.
Getting There
US Route 50 and US Route 220 cross the county through Keyser, with WV Routes 28, 42, 46, and 93 serving the outlying communities.
- Cumberland, Maryland — 5 miles north of Ridgeley
- Romney, Hampshire County — 20 miles east of Keyser
- Petersburg, Grant County — 25 miles south of Keyser
- Martinsburg — 60 miles northeast via US 50 and I-81
The nearest commercial airport is Greater Cumberland Regional Airport in Wiley Ford, just across the county line from Cumberland, Maryland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mineral County, West Virginia?
It is in the state’s Eastern Panhandle, along the North Branch Potomac River opposite Cumberland, Maryland.
What is the population of Mineral County?
26,938 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Mineral County?
329 square miles (850 km2), of which about 1.4 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Mineral County?
Keyser is the county seat.
How many towns and communities are in Mineral County?
Three incorporated municipalities (Keyser, Ridgeley, Piedmont) plus Fort Ashby, Elk Garden, and roughly two dozen smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Mineral County?
Eight, led by 26726 (Keyser), 26719 (Fort Ashby), and 26753 (Ridgeley).
What college is in Mineral County?
Potomac State College of West Virginia University, a two-year branch campus in Keyser founded in 1901.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in West Virginia.