Upshur County is a county in West Virginia, United States, about 46 miles southwest of
Morgantown. It had a population of 23,816 at the 2020 census, an estimated 23,758 by 2024, and
covers 354.9 square miles (919 km2) centred near 38°54′N 80°14′W.
Buckhannon is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city. Its postal code is 26201, and the county holds
1 city, 3 census-designated places and dozens of smaller unincorporated
communities across 3 magisterial districts, and it runs on Eastern Time. Its FIPS code is 54097.
Towns & Villages in Upshur County
Upshur County has 65 named places on record: 1 incorporated city, 3 census-designated places,
and 61 unincorporated communities and rural crossroads with no local government of their own. CDP
stands for census designated place; Unincorp. covers hamlets and crossroads with no formal
boundary.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckhannon | City · seat | 5,299 | 26201 |
| Rock Cave | CDP | — | 26234 |
| Adrian | CDP | — | 26210 |
| Hinkleville | CDP | — | — |
| Tennerton | Unincorp. | — | 26201 |
| French Creek | Unincorp. | — | 26218 |
| Tallmansville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sago | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Alton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Abbott | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Alexander | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arlington | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Atlas | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beans Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Canaan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Craddock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Daysville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deanville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ellamore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Evergreen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Excelsior | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Five Forks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Freeman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Frenchton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gaines | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Goodwin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gormley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Goshen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gould | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hampton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Heavener Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hemlock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hodgesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holly Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hoover Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Imperial | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ivy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kanawha Head | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kedron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kesling Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lorentz | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McCuetown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midvale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nebo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Overhill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Palace Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pecks Run | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Queens | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Red Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Reger | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rocky Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ruraldale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sand Run | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Selbyville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shahan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| South Buckhannon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Swamp Run | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tenmile | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Teter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vegan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilsontown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Yokum | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zion | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 26201 — Buckhannon (also covers Tennerton, on the city’s east side)
- 26234 — Rock Cave
- 26210 — Adrian
- 26218 — French Creek
Most of the county’s named crossroads and hamlets — Sago, Tallmansville, Alton and
the rest — have no ZIP of their own; mail there is delivered under the Buckhannon, Rock
Cave, Adrian or French Creek code depending on which rural route serves the address.
Geography
Upshur County sits in the Allegheny Plateau of north-central West Virginia, a landscape of
steep forested ridges cut by the Buckhannon River and its tributaries. Of the county’s 355
square miles, 354.9 are land and only 0.1 square mile is water — about 0.03 percent, low
even by Appalachian standards, since the county has no large lake and depends on the Buckhannon
River and Fink Creek for its surface drainage. The Buckhannon River flows north through the
middle of the county, past the city of Buckhannon itself, before joining the Tygart Valley River
in Barbour County.
Harrison County lies to the north, Barbour County to the northeast, Randolph County to the
southeast, Webster County to the south, and Lewis County to the west. Harrison County, Barbour County, Randolph County, Webster County and Lewis County all border
Upshur directly.
Demographics
Upshur County had a population of 23,816 at the 2020 census, and the latest estimate puts the
county near 23,758 residents, essentially flat over the period. Buckhannon is by far the
county’s largest community, followed by the Rock Cave and Adrian CDPs. Median household
income runs $54,338 (2024 est.), below West Virginia’s statewide figure of $55,948 (2023
ACS). Population density works out to roughly 67 people per square mile of land, typical for a
rural Appalachian county with one small city and a scattering of hamlets.
Economy & Local Life
Health care and social assistance employs the most workers in the county, about 1,738 people,
followed by educational services at 1,039 and retail trade at 829. West Virginia Wesleyan
College, a private liberal arts school in Buckhannon, is one of the county’s largest
employers and draws students from across the region. The West Virginia State Wildlife Center,
a state-run wildlife park south of Buckhannon, brings in tourism revenue and school field trips.
Coal mining and timber harvesting have long supported the county’s rural economy, though
both have declined from their mid-20th-century peaks. The county’s biggest annual event is
the West Virginia Strawberry Festival in Buckhannon, held during the third week of May.
History
The Virginia General Assembly formed Upshur County on 26 March 1851, carving it out of
Randolph, Barbour and Lewis counties. It was named for Abel Parker Upshur, a Virginia judge and
legislator who served as U.S. Secretary of the Navy and later Secretary of State under President
John Tyler. Buckhannon, settled in 1816 and incorporated in 1933, became the county seat.
On 2 January 2006, an explosion trapped 13 miners at the Sago Mine in the county’s Sago
community; one survived after more than 40 hours underground, and the disaster drew national
attention to mine-safety regulation. The county has voted Republican in nearly every
presidential election since the Civil War, a legacy of Unionist sympathy in this part of what
was then Virginia; the only Democrat to carry it since is Lyndon Johnson in 1964, by 168 votes.
Getting There
No interstate crosses Upshur County. US 33 and US 119 are the main highways through
Buckhannon, along with WV 4, WV 20 and WV 24.
- Morgantown — about 46 miles northeast
- Clarksburg — about 25 miles northwest
- Elkins — about 25 miles southeast
- Charleston — about 88 miles southwest
North Central West Virginia Airport in Bridgeport, roughly 25 miles north of Buckhannon, is
the nearest commercial airport. Amtrak does not serve Upshur County; the nearest station is the
Cardinal line stop in Clarksburg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Upshur County located?
It sits in the Allegheny Plateau of north-central West Virginia, about 46 miles southwest of
Morgantown, bordered by Harrison, Barbour, Randolph, Webster and Lewis counties.
What is the population of Upshur County?
23,816 at the 2020 census, with a 2024 estimate near 23,758.
How big is Upshur County?
354.9 square miles (919 km2) of land, plus 0.1 square mile of water, for a total of 355 square
miles.
What is the county seat of Upshur County?
Buckhannon, incorporated in 1933, is the county seat and only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Upshur County?
One incorporated city, Buckhannon, plus three census-designated places — Rock Cave, Adrian
and Hinkleville — and dozens of smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes does Upshur County use?
26201 for Buckhannon and Tennerton, 26234 for Rock Cave, 26210 for Adrian and 26218 for French
Creek.
What is Upshur County known for?
The 2006 Sago Mine disaster, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and the annual West Virginia
Strawberry Festival in Buckhannon each May.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in West Virginia.