Wetzel County is a county in West Virginia, United States, in the Northern Panhandle along the Ohio River. It had a population of 14,442 at the 2020 census, covers 361 square miles (930 km2) — 358 square miles of land and 3.3 square miles of water — and is centred near 39°37′N 80°38′W.
New Martinsville is the county seat, and its postal code is 26155. The county has two cities, three towns, and three census-designated places. It sits in the Eastern time zone and was formed in 1846.
Towns & Villages in Wetzel County
New Martinsville and Paden City anchor the Ohio River side of the county; Hundred, Pine Grove, and Smithfield serve the interior ridges, and several unincorporated communities dot the back roads between them.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Martinsville | City · seat | 5,204 | 26155 |
| Paden City | City | 2,541 | 26159 |
| Hundred | Town | 255 | 26575 |
| Pine Grove | Town | — | — |
| Smithfield | Town | — | — |
| Jacksonburg | CDP | — | — |
| Littleton | CDP | — | — |
| Reader | CDP | — | — |
Paden City straddles the Wetzel–Tyler county line; the population above is for the whole city, not the Wetzel County share alone. The county also carries a long list of small unincorporated crossroads and hollows — among them Big Run, Burton, Fairview, Folsom, Green Hill, Hartzel, Proctor, Rockport, Uniontown, and Wileyville — that have no separate census count.
ZIP Codes
- 26155 — New Martinsville (also serves nearby river communities)
- 26159 — Paden City (shared with the Tyler County side of the city)
- 26575 — Hundred
Pine Grove, Smithfield, and the county’s smaller crossroads communities are served by the nearest post office rather than a ZIP of their own.
Geography
Wetzel County lies in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle, a ridge-and-valley landscape cut by the Ohio River on its western edge and drained inland by Fishing Creek and Big Run. The terrain is steep and heavily wooded away from the river bottoms, which is where New Martinsville and Paden City sit. Its neighbors are Marshall County to the north, Greene County, Pennsylvania, to the northeast, Monongalia and Marion counties to the east, Harrison County to the southeast, Doddridge County to the south, Tyler County to the southwest, and Monroe County, Ohio, across the river to the west.
Demographics
The county’s population was 14,442 at the 2020 census, down to an estimated 13,734 by 2025, part of a decades-long decline tied to the shrinking coal and glass industries. New Martinsville (5,204) and Paden City (2,541 countywide) are the two largest communities. Median household income in Wetzel County runs below the West Virginia figure of $55,948. At 358 square miles of land, the county’s population density works out to roughly 40 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Natural gas and oil development in the Marcellus and Utica shale layers has driven much of the county’s recent economic activity, alongside longstanding farming and timber work on the ridges. Paden City’s history as a glassmaking town is still part of local identity, even though its glass plants have closed. New Martinsville, on the river, remains the county’s commercial and government center.
History
Wetzel County was formed in 1846 from part of Tyler County, then still in Virginia, and became a West Virginia county when the new state was admitted in 1863. It is named for Lewis Wetzel, a frontier scout and Indian fighter who ranged the upper Ohio Valley in the late 1700s. The county’s government was reorganized from seven historic magisterial districts down to three during the 1980s.
Getting There
US Route 250 and West Virginia Routes 2, 7, 20, 69, and 180 are the main roads through the county, with Route 2 tracing the Ohio River past New Martinsville and Paden City.
- Wheeling, WV — 30 miles north
- Morgantown, WV — 40 miles east
- Clarksburg, WV — 35 miles southeast
- Parkersburg, WV — 40 miles south
The nearest major commercial airport is Pittsburgh International Airport, roughly 75 miles northeast. The county has no Amtrak station of its own; the nearest passenger rail service is well outside the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the New Martinsville postcode?
26155.
What county is New Martinsville, West Virginia in?
New Martinsville is the county seat of Wetzel County.
How big is Wetzel County?
361 square miles (930 km2), including 3.3 square miles of water.
What was the 2020 census population of Wetzel County?
14,442.
Who is Wetzel County named after?
Lewis Wetzel, a frontiersman and Indian fighter known for his exploits along the upper Ohio River in the late 18th century.
What counties border Wetzel County?
Marshall to the north, Greene County, Pennsylvania, to the northeast, Monongalia and Marion to the east, Harrison to the southeast, Doddridge to the south, Tyler to the southwest, and Monroe County, Ohio, to the west.
Does Paden City lie entirely inside Wetzel County?
No. Paden City straddles the Wetzel–Tyler county line along the Ohio River.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in West Virginia.