SheShe's blog: "WEST VIRGINIA"

Origins of West Virginia Place Names The following are origins of names of counties and cities and towns in West Virginia. A principal source for this information was the West Virginia Blue Book. Entries with [Shirey] are from The Big Sewell Mountain Country by Mervin R. Shirey, which provides origins of names of some Fayette County towns. Another source is The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia 1858-1995, published by the McDowell County Historical Society. Contributors to this page include: James Owston, Okey King, Carlene Adkins, James L. Files, Martha Mills, Rick Smith, James M. Cox, Will Nicoll, J. B. Breeding, Beverly Cyphers, Dennis Upshur, Jim Simon, David E. Lake, Cathy Stuart Jackson, Charles Lewis, Billy Rose, Pat Greene, Ashley Bradford, David Estep, Jim Gray, Sherlene Hall Bartholomew, Janet Sponaugle, Jennifer Davis, Warren Napier, Kathy Deskins, Robert Thompson, Jonathen Morgan, and Bob Gossett. Additions for this list are welcome via e-mail. Last revision: Oct. 14, 2006 Counties Barbour for Philip Pendleton Barbour, Virginia jurist Berkeley for Norborne Berkeley (Baron de Botetourt), Colonial Governor of Virginia, 1768-70 Boone for hunter and explorer Daniel Boone Braxton for Carter Braxton, Virginia statesman, signer of the Declaration of Independence Brooke for Robert Brooke, Virginia Governor, 1794-96 Cabell for William H. Cabell, Virginia Governor, 1805-08 Calhoun for John C. Calhoun, South Carolina politician Clay for Henry Clay, Kentucky politician Doddridge for Philip Doddridge, Virginia statesman, who spent most of his life in Brooke County, West Virginia Fayette for the Marquis de LaFayette Gilmer for Thomas Walker Gilmer, Virginia Governor, 1840-41, later a Congressman and Secretary of the Navy Grant for General U. S. Grant Greenbrier for the Greenbrier River Hampshire for Hampshire, England Hancock for John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence Hardy for Samuel Hardy, of Virginia Harrison for Benjamin Harrison of Virginia, father of President William Henry Harrison Jackson for President Andrew Jackson Jefferson for President Thomas Jefferson Kanawha for the Kanawha River (1) Lewis for Col. Charles Lewis, Virginia soldier who was killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 Lincoln for President Abraham Lincoln Logan for Logan, chief of the Mingo Indian tribe McDowell for James McDowell, Virginia Governor, 1842-44 Marion for Gen. Francis Marion of the Revolutionary War, known as "the Swamp Fox" Marshall for John Marshall, Chief Justice of the U. S. Mason for George Mason, member of the Constitutional Convention Mercer for Gen. Hugh Mercer of the Revolutionary War Mineral because of the mineral resources there Mingo for the Mingo Indian tribe Monongalia for the Monongahela River Monroe for President James Monroe Morgan for Gen. Daniel Morgan of the Revolutionary War Nicholas for Wilson Cary Nicholas, Virginia Governor, 1814-16 Ohio for the Ohio River Pendleton for Edmund Pendleton, Virginia jurist Pleasants for James Pleasants Jr., Virginia Governor and U. S. Senator from Virginia Pocahontas for Pocahontas, the Indian princess Preston for James Patton Preston, Virginia Governor, 1816-19 Putnam for Gen. Israel Putnam, soldier Raleigh for Sir Walter Raleigh, English adventurer and soldier Randolph for Edmund Jennings Randolph, Virginia Governor, 1786-88 Ritchie for Thomas Ritchie, journalist of Richmond, Virginia Roane for Judge Spencer Roane, of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, whose wife Anne was the daughter of Patrick Henry Summers for George W. Summers, Kanawha county jurist Taylor for Sen. John Taylor, Virginia statesman and soldier Tucker for Henry St. George Tucker, Virginia jurist Tyler for President John Tyler Upshur for Abel Parker Upshur, Secretary of the Navy (1841-43) and U.S. Secretary of State (1843-44) Wayne for Gen. Anthony Wayne of the Revolutionary War Webster for Daniel Webster of New England Wetzel for Lewis Wetzel, famous frontier character and Indian fighter Wirt for William Wirt, author, orator, and lawyer from Maryland and Virginia Wood for James Wood, Virginia Governor, 1796-99 Wyoming for the Delaware Indian word meaning "large plain" (1) According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "The name Kanawha is probably derived from that of an Indian tribe." According to the 1935 and 1969 West Virginia Blue Book, the name is derived from the Indian tribe which once inhabited the area. According to the Grolier Encyclopedia, kanawha is believed to mean "place of the white rock." According to William T. Price in his Historical Sketches Of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, Allegheny County, Virginia, and Pocahontas were created on the same day. Because of an error by the clerk, the names of the two new counties were switched and, instead of the higher county being called Allegheny County, it was called Pocohontas and the county that was lower in elevation was called Allegheny County. Cities and Towns Albright Preston for David Albright, owner of the land where the town was built Alderson Monroe/ Greenbrier for John Alderson, Baptist minister who settled there in 1777 Alpoca Wyoming for Alpha Pocahontas Coal Co. Anawalt McDowell for Col. Anawalt, who was then manager of Union Supply Co. Ansted Fayette for David T. Ansted, British geologist, owner of the land where the town was built Astor Taylor name selected by the first postmaster's wife while running through an alphabetical list in her mind (name replaced "Fairview," already in use in Marion County) Athens Mercer for Athens, Greece Auburn Ritchie suggested in 1871 by Maj. Joseph C. Gluck, apparently because "the word is easy to spell and write" Bancroft Putnam for George Bancroft, coal mine operator Barboursville Cabell for James Barbour, Virginia Governor, 1812-14 Barrackville Marion for Thomas Barrack, early settler Bayard Grant for Thomas F. Bayard, later U. S. Senator from Delaware Beard Pocahontas for Josiah Beard, who immigrated from Scotland through Ireland to West Virginia, according to his great great granddaughter Alice Beard Beckley Raleigh for John Beckley, first Clerk of the Congress, named by Alfred Beckley, his son, early settler (see note) Beech Bottom Brooke because a beech grove originally grew there Belington Barbour adapted from earlier name "Bealin's," which was derived from a store operated by merchant John Bealin Benwood Marshall adapted from earlier name "Ben's Woods," because the land was owned by Benjamin McMechen Berkeley Springs Morgan for Norborne Berkeley, Virginia Governor, 1768-70, and for the springs located there (originally called "Bath," for Bath, England) Besoco Raleigh for Beckley Smokeless Coal Co. Bethany Brooke for Bethany, Palestine Beverly Randolph for Beverly Randolph, mother of Edmund Randolph Big Chimney Kanawha for the salt works there which apparently built a "big chimney". Big Stick Raleigh for Theodore Roosevelt, who believed in talking softly and carrying a big stick Big Ugly Lincoln for Big Ugly Creek Blacksville Monongalia for David Black, founder of the town Bluefield Mercer because of the growth of a dark blue flower and blue grass which grows there Blueville Taylor for John Wolverton Blue who came there in 1838 to complete the Northwestern Turnpike from the top of Cheat Mountain to Clarksburg Bolivar Jefferson for Simon Bolivar, South American patriot Boothsville Marion for James Booth, a Virginia soldier injured during Braddock's defeat in 1755 Bradley Raleigh for Gen. Omar Bradley Bramwell Mercer for Joseph H. Bramwell, coal developer Brandonville Preston for Col. Jonathan Brandon, builder of the first house there Bridgeport Harrison because of the completion of the first bridge in Harrison county in 1803 Bruceton Mills Preston for George Bruce, said to be a descendant of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland (Bruce was the stepfather of John M. Hoffman, early settler, who named the town) Buckhannon Upshur for Buck-on-go-ha-non, chief of the Delaware Indians Buffalo Putnam for Buffalo Creek Burning Springs Wirt for a spring that bubbled with natural gas Burnsville Braxton for Capt. John Burns, sawmill operator who founded the town Cabin Creek Kanawha for the first Cabin of John Flinn. He was later killed by Indians; Daniel Boone rescued his daughter and raised her. Cairo Ritchie for Cairo, Egypt Caldwell Greenbrier for James Caldwell, who developed the first hotel at White Sulphur Springs Camden on Gauley Webster for U. S. Senator Johnson N. Camden Cameron Marshall for Samuel Cameron, right-of-way agent for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. before the construction of the railroad into the town Capon Bridge Hampshire because of the construction of the bridge over Cacapon River there (the river is a Shawnee Indian name meaning "river of medicine water") Carlisle Fayette for a city in England, named by coal operator Samuel Dixon Cass Pocahontas for Joseph K. Cass, chairman of the board of West Virginia Pulp and Paper Co. Cedar Grove Kanawha because a large cedar forest was growing there Ceredo Wayne for Ceres, the Greek goddess of grain and harvest Chapmanville Logan for an early settler Charleston Kanawha for Charles Clendenin, father of early settler George Clendenin Charles Town Jefferson for Charles Washington, brother of President George Washington, who lived there Chesapeake Kanawha for the railroad Chelyan Kanawha for a daughter of Calvert Family Cirtsville Raleigh for Curtis Vass, early settler Clarksburg Harrison for George Rogers Clark, Virginia soldier Clay Clay for Clay County, which was named for Henry Clay Clayton Summers for a Cincinnati balloonist who crashed on Keeney's Knob in April 1835 Clendenin Kanawha for the Clendenin family, including town founder Charles and his son George Coalton Randolph because the town was a coal mining center Coco Kanawha see note below Coopers Mercer for John Cooper, coal operator Corliss Fayette for Corliss Amick who died in 1890 at age 3 [Shirey] Cowen Webster for John F. Cowen, director of the West Virginia and Pittsburgh Railway Co. Cranberry Raleigh for Cranberry Creek, because cranberries grew in abundance Danese Fayette named by S. G. Bowyer in honor of his newly born daughter [Shirey] Danville Boone for Dan Rock, first postmaster Davis Tucker for the family of U. S. Senator Henry Gassaway Davis Davis Creek Cabell for the family of Paul H. Davis, early settlers Delbarton Mingo for one of the officials of the United Thacker Land Co. Dunbar Kanawaha for Dunbar Baines, Charleston banker and lawyer Durbin Pocahontas for Charles R. Durbin Sr., banker, from Grafton and Morgantown East Bank Kanawha because of its location east of Coalburg ("bank" referred to a coal mine) East Lynn Wayne named in 1890-91 probably because of its central location between Big Lynn and Little Lynn Creeks Edmond Fayette for Postmaster J. L. Ryan's son Eddie [Shirey] Eleanor Putnam for Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin Roosevelt Elizabeth Wirt for Elizabeth (Woodyard) Beauchamp, wife of David Beauchamp, early settler Elk Garden Mineral because of the traditional location there of an elk lick Elkins Randolph for U. S. Sen. Stephen B. Elkins Ellenboro Ritchie for Ellen Mariah Williamson, first postmistress and daughter of John Williamson, early settler Epperly Raleigh for John Epperly, an official of several mining companies in the area Fairmont Marion a contraction of Fair Mountain Fairview Marion because of a clear view of the surrounding country Falling Spring Greenbrier because of a spring having a gentle fall into the Greenbrier River Farmington Marion because farming was a principal occupation there Fayetteville Fayette for Lafayette, the French nobleman Fireco Raleigh a name used to indicate heat Flatwoods Braxton because of the flat and rolling land there Flemington Taylor for James Fleming, early settler Follansbee Brooke for the Follansbee brothers, owners of a steel mill there Fort Gay Wayne for Fort Gallup, which was located near there before the Civil War Frametown Braxton for James Frame, Sr. early settler Franklin Pendleton for Francis Evick, the first resident Freeman Mercer for John Freeman, coal operator (see note) Friendly Tyler for Friend Cochrane Williamson, grandson of Thomas Williamson, early settler Gassaway Braxton for U. S. Senator Henry Gassaway Davis Gilbert Mingo for Gilbert Creek, which is named for an early traveler there who was killed by Indians Glasgow Kanawha because a glass factory was built there Glen Dale Marshall for Glen Dale, the name of a farm owned by Samuel A. Cockayne there Glen Jean Fayette for Jean, the wife of Thomas G. McKell, a large landowner in the area Glenville Gilmer for a short bend in the little Kanawha River Glen White Raleigh for E. E. White, coal operator Grafton Taylor for John Grafton, civil engineer who laid out the route of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad near there, or because railroad crews called the town "graftin"because it was the point at which a number of branch railroad lines met the railroad's mainline Grantsville Calhoun for Gen. U. S. Grant Grant Town Marion for Robert Grant, Vice President of the Federal Coal and Coke Co. Halleck Monongalia for Civil War Gen. Henry Wager Halleck Halltown Jefferson for William Hall I, who settled the town and raised his family there Hambleton Tucker for a stockholder of the West Virginia Central Railroad Co. Hamlin Lincoln for Leonides Lent Hamline, Methodist bishop, or for Vice President Hannibal Hamlin Handley Kanawha for a board member on the Railroad Hansford Kanawha for an early family of Kanawha County Harman Randolph for Rev. Asa Harman, donor of the site of the town Harpers Ferry Jefferson for Robert Harper, who operated ferries across the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers there Harrisville Ritchie for Thomas Harris, pioneer Hartford Mason for Hartford, Connecticut Hedgesville Berkeley for the Hedges family in that area Helen Raleigh for the daughter of G. W. Stevens, president of the C&O Railroad Helvetia Randolph the ancient Latin name for Switzerland, because many early settlers were Swiss Hemlock Fayette for the Hemlock Hollow Coal Co. [Shirey] Henderson Mason for Samuel Bruce Henderson, who owned the land where the town was established Hendricks Tucker for Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks Henlawson Logan for Henry Lawson, property owner Herndon Wyoming probably for A. M. Herndon, an official of the Winding Gulf Colliery Co. Hillsboro Pocahontas for John Hill, instrumental in having the town laid out (or for Richard Hill, early settler) Hinton Summers for John (Jack) Hinton, Summers County lawyer (see note) Hundred Wetzel for Henry Church and his wife, early settlers, who lived to be 109 and 106 years old Huntington Cabell/ Wayne for Collis P. Huntington, President of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Hurricane Putnam because surveyors discovered that a tornado had earlier leveled many trees there Huttonsville Randolph for the pioneer Hutton family there Iaeger McDowell for Col. William G. W. Iaeger, whose son, Dr. William R. Iaeger, had a plat of the present town made Itmann Wyoming for Isaac T. Mann, founder of Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Co. Jane Lew Lewis for Jane Lewis, mother of the founder of the town Jenkinjones McDowell for Jenkin Jones, coal operator (see note) Jonben Raleigh for John Tolley and Ben Meadows Jumping Branch Summers for a log that fallen over a creek, making an easy place to cross Junior Barbour for Harry Junior Davis, son of Henry Gassaway Davis Kendalia Kanawha for Joseph Chancelor Kendall, early settler who served in the War of 1812 as a boy of 13. He moved to the Elk District of Virginia, on the Blue Creek, where he purchased 39,000 acres of timberland. Town was near Charleston, no longer exists Kenova Wayne for Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia Kermit Mingo for Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt Keyser Mineral for William Keyser, first vice president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Keystone McDowell for a coal and coke company operating there Kimball McDowell for Frederick J. Kimball, railroad operator Kingwood Preston because of a forest of large trees Kopperston Wyoming from the Koppers Company of Delaware which opened the mine there (1937) Lake Logan for Nicholas Lake, who settled and named the town. First considered the name Lakes Mills but settled on Lake on the post office application, in 1880 Lanark Raleigh named by coal operator James K. Laing for his home county in Scotland Layland Fayette named by the New River and Pocahontas Coal Co. [Shirey] Leckie McDowell for Col. William Leckie, coal operator Leon Mason for Leone, Mexico. Named by a veteran of the Mexican-American War for the town he visited in Mexico during the war, according to Pat Greene. Lester Raleigh for Chandler "Champ" Lester. The town started on land owned by him and John W. Gray Lewisburg Greenbrier for Gen. Andrew Lewis Littleton Wetzel for William Little, early settler Liverpool Roane for Liverpool, England Logan Logan for Logan, the Indian chief Lookout Fayette because of Spy Rock, just west of the town, used by the Union Army [Shirey] Lost Creek Harrison because of a message carved on trees along the creek before the region was settled, according to tradition Lumberport Harrison because of a boat-yard where timber was dressed by hand and floated in rafts to market in Pittsburgh Maben Wyoming for J. C. Maben of Philadelphia Mabscott Raleigh for Mabel Shinn Scott, of Fairmont, wife of Cyrus H. Scott, coal operator from Raleigh County MacArthur Raleigh for General Douglas MacArthur Madison Boone for Col. William Madison Peyton, coal operator, or possibly President James Madison Man Logan from the last syllable of the name of Ulysses Hinchman, member of the House of Delegates from Logan County Mannington Marion for James Manning, railroad engineer Manila Boone named in 1900 after Battle of Manila Bay during Spanish American War Maplewood Fayette in honor of a large maple tree [Shirey] Marlinton Pocahontas for Jacob Marlin, who settled there with Sewell during the winter of 1750-51 Marmet Kanawha for the Marmet Coal Co., owned by William and Edwin Marmet Martinsburg Berkeley for Thomas Bryan Martin, nephew of Lord Fairfax Mason Mason for Mason County, which is named for George W. Mason, author of the Constitution of Virginia Masontown Preston for William Mason, founder of the town and its first postmaster Matewan Mingo for Matewan, New York, home city of the engineer who laid out the town Matoaka Mercer is another name for Pocahontas, the Indian princess McAlpin Raleigh named by John Laing in honor of his mother, whose maiden name was McAlpin McDonald for Symington McDonald, coal operator McMechen Marshall for William and Sidney (Johnson) McMechen, early settlers Meadow Bridge Fayette because a bridge was constructed across Meadow Creek there Middlebourne Tyler because it was halfway between Pennsylvania and the old Salt Wells on the Kanawha above Charleston Mill Creek Randolph because a large mill was operated by William Currence there Milton Cabell for Milton Reece, land owner there Mitchell Heights Logan for the old Mitchell Farm there Monongah Marion for the Monongahela River Montgomery Fayette/ Kanawha for James Montgomery, early settler Montrose Randolph because of the profusion of wild roses growing there Moorefield Hardy for Conrad Moore, land owner there Morgantown Monongalia for Col. Zackquill Morgan, son of Morgan Morgan Moundsville Marshall for the Mammoth Grave Creek Indian Mound there Mount Hope Fayette for Mount Hope School, an early country school there Mullens Wyoming for Andrew Jackson Mullins (1857-1938), land owner there (the name was inadvertently misspelled; later, residents of the town voted to retain the "incorrect" spelling) Newburg Preston because a "new" town was being established on the Baltimore and Ohio lines New Cumberland Hancock because the purchasers of land preferred this name over the older names Cuppy Town and Vernon New Haven Mason for New Haven, Connecticut New Martinsville Wetzel for Presley Martin, early settler Nimitz Summers for Admiral Chester Nimitz Nitro Kanawha/Putnam for the large federal plant to manufacture explosives established during World War I Northfork McDowell because of its location on the north fork of Elkhorn River at its junction with the south fork North Spring Wyoming Probably because the creek there runs in a northerly direction Nuttallburg Fayette for Englishman John Nuttall who opened a mine and built 150 coke ovens [Shirey]. Nutter Fort Harrison for Thomas Nutter, who built and maintained an old Indian fort there Oak Hill Fayette because of a large white oak tree there and the fact that the town is on a hill Oakvale Mercer for oak trees there Oceana Wyoming for Oceana, younger daughter of Cornstalk(?) Ona Cabell for a girl named Ona who won a beauty contest held to determine the name of the town Onego Pendleton for the Onega Indian tribe Orgas Boone for Orange Gas Co. Paden City Tyler/ Wetzel for the family of Obediah Paden, early settler Page Fayette for Capt. William N. Page, coal operator Paint Creek Kanawha/Fayette because Indians painted the trees to mark their trail Parkersburg Wood for Alexander Parker, whose daughter, after his death, donated the land for the site of the courthouse and the county building Parral Fayette for a mine in Mexico visited by Samuel Dixon, coal operator Parsons Tucker for Ward Parsons, landowner there Paw Paw Morgan for the paw paw, a wild fruit which formerly grew in abundance there Pax Fayette for the Pax Branch stream, which was named for hunters who had camped near there earlier Peach Creek Logan for the large peach grove there Pennsboro Ritchie for Penn, a Baltimore surveyor who made the first plat of the town Petersburg Grant for Peterson, the operator of the first general store there Peterstown Monroe for Christian Peters, Revolutionary soldier who founded the town Philippi Barbour for Phillip Pendleton Barbour, Supreme Court justice Pie Mingo named by postmaster Leander Blankenship (b. about 1870) because he liked pie (information from Kathy Deskins, his granddaughter) Piedmont Mineral because the town is at the foot of a mountain Pine Grove Wetzel for a large pine thicket there Pineville Wyoming for a pine forest there Poca Putnam from Pocatalico, Indian name (see note below) Point Pleasant Mason for Camp Point Pleasant, established there by Gen. Andrew Lewis, which was probably named because it was a pleasant place Pratt Kanawha for Charles K. Pratt, coal operator Princeton Mercer for Princeton, New Jersey, where Gen. Hugh Mercer was killed during the Revolutionary War Pruntytown Taylor for John Prunty, State Legislator Pullman Ritchie for George M. Pullman, manufacturer of the pullman cars Quick Kanawha for the family who lived there having the name Quick Quinnimont Fayette Latin for "five mountains" Quinwood Greenbrier for Quin Morton and Walter Wood, coal operators Rainelle Greenbrier for Thomas W. and John Raine, lumber manufacturers (see note) Ranson Jefferson for the Ranson family who owned the land where the town was built Ravenseye Fayette for the flashing dark eyes of Mrs. Maggie Rodes [Shirey] Ravenswood Jackson for Allan, Lord of Ravenswood, in Sir Walter Scott's "The Bride of Lammermoor" Raysal McDowell for Raymond Salvati, a mine superintendent Reedsville Preston for James Reed, owner of land there Reedy Roane for Reedy Creek, which is named because of the numerous reeds that grew the stream Renick Greenbrier for Maj. William Renick, from Augusta County, Virginia Rhodell Raleigh for I. J. Rhodes, one of the founders of the town Richwood Nicholas because of the wealth of natural resources there Ridgeley Mineral for the former owners of the land there Rig Hardy for Elmer Riggelman, founder of the post office and general store (see note) Ripley Jackson for Harry Ripley, who was drowned in Big Mill creek in 1830 Rivesville Marion for U. S. Sen. William Cabell Rives Romney Hampshire for Romney in Great Britain Ronceverte Greenbrier French for "green brier" Rowlesburg Preston for James Rowles, engineer in charge of the survey of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad of the region Rum Creek Logan because a keg of rum was lost in its banks by the settlers Rupert Greenbrier for Dr. Cyrus A Rupert, founder St. Albans Kanawha for St. Albans, Vermont St. Marys Pleasants for the Virgin Mary Salem Harrison for Salem, New Jersey Sam Black Church Greenbrier for a church named in honor of Rev. Samuel Black (1813-1899), a native of Greenbrier county Sand Fork Gilmer for the creek there, which was named for the numerous sand bars found along the course of the stream Saulsville Wyoming for James Sauls, the mail carrier of the route between Oceana, Pineville, Spanishburg and Raleigh Scarbro Fayette named by Samuel Dixon for the English town of Scarborough. The Post Office later shortened the name. Seymourville Grant for Felix Seymour (1725-1798), early settler Shepherdstown Jefferson for Thomas Shepherd, founder of the town Shinnston Harrison for the Shinn family, pioneer settlers from New Jersey Simpson Taylor for John Simpson, renowned hunter and pioneer who arrived in the area in 1763 Sissonville Kanawha for founder James Sisson, according to his descendant John M. Cox Sistersville Tyler for two sisters, Sarah and Delilah Wells, owners of the land there Skelton Raleigh named by coal operator Samuel Dixon for his birthplace, Skelton, England Slab Fork Raleigh for the creek near the town Smithers Fayette for James Smithers, early settler Smithfield Wetzel for Henry Smith, who established a store there Sophia Raleigh for Sophia McGinnis, early resident South Charleston Kanawha because it is located south of Charleston Spanishburg Mercer for Spanish Brown, early settler Spencer Roane for Spencer Roane, Virginia jurist Sprague Raleigh for Phineas W. Sprague, head of C. H. Sprague Co. and a major stockholder in the New River Co. Spurlockville Lincoln for the Spurlock families who were prominent in Lincoln and Wayne Counties Stanaford Raleigh for the creek branch on which it is located Star City Monongalia for the Star Glass Company there Stone Coal from a name formerly used for coal to distinguish it from charcoal Stonewood Harrison for two small towns formerly known as Stonewall and Norwood; name was chosen by a contest in an eighth-grade class Stotesbury Raleigh for Edward T. Stotesbury, president of the Beaver Coal Co., named by E. E. White, coal operator Summersville Nicholas for Judge Lewis Summers, who introduced the bill in the Virginia Assembly creating Nicholas County Sutton Braxton for John D. Sutton, founder of the town Talbott Barbour for Robert R. Talbott, early settler Ten Mile Upshur (see note) Terra Alta Preston Latin for "high land" Thomas Tucker for Col. Thomas Davis, pioneer railroad and mine owner there Thurmond Fayette for Capt. W. D. Thurmond, who acquired the land in 1873 as payment for surveying work Triadelphia Ohio for (probably) the three sons of Col. Josias Thompson, who donated the land upon which the town was originally laid out Triune Monongalia because three roads joined at the town Tunnelton Preston because of the railroad tunnel there Union Monroe because the site of the town was a rendezvous for troops during the Indian wars Upper Falls Kanawha for the cascading waters of the adjacent Coal River Ury Raleigh for Uriah Cook, land owner Vienna Wood for Vienna, Virginia War McDowell for War Creek, named by the Indians because of a battle that occurred near the source of the creek Wardensville Hardy for Jacob Warden, the first merchant Webster Taylor for Daniel Webster, a miller Webster Springs Webster for Webster County and the various sulphur springs there Weirton Hancock/ Brooke for E. T. Weir or David M. Weir Welch McDowell for Isaiah A. Welch, a captain in the Confederate army Wellsburg Brooke for Alexander Wells, son-in-law of Charles Prather, builder of the first large flour warehouse in the east West Milford Harrison because of a mill on the west side of the West Fork River, near a much-used ford Weston Lewis unknown Westover Monongalia because the town is west of Morgantown, across the Monongahela River Wheeling Ohio from an Indian word (see note) White Sulphur Springs Greenbrier for the sulphur springs there Whitesville Boone for B. W. White, early settler Wickham Raleigh for coal operator Thomas Wickham Williamson Mingo for Wallace J. Williamson, founder of the town Williamstown Wood for Isaac Williams, founder of the town Winfield Putnam for Gen. Winfield Scott Worthington Marion for Col. George Worthington, early settler Wyco Wyoming for Wyoming Coal Company Beckley. According to The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States (1905) by Henry Gannett, Beckley was named for Alfred Beckley. However, other accounts say Alfred named the town for his father. Coco - A child named Forest Rose Myers won a contest to name the post office, suggesting the name Poco, which was the name of her pet rooster. There was an error and the town ended up as Coco. This information was supplied by her daughter. Hinton - However, according to A History of Clayton Community (1923) by C. H. Graham, "In 1872 Summers County was formed, taking into its territory that part of Monroe to which we belonged. The first sheriff to whom we paid taxes in the new county was Evan Hinton, after whose family the town of Hinton was named and who also was the chief promoter in having the new county formed." Jenkinjones and Freeman - Jenkin Jones was born at Glyn Neath, Wales on Sept. 25, 1839. He came to the U. S. in 1863, and worked as a coal miner in Pennsylvania before moving to West Virginia, where he developed coal mines. Jones and John Freeman formed a partnership which opened the Caswell Creek Coal and Coke Co. and later, with Isaac T. Mann, they operated Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Co. Poca - according to Poca city councilman Arnold G. Stephens, Pocatalico was a local Indian who lived in the area, supposedly shot by settlers whom he was harassing. He was shot on one bank of the river, swam across and died on the other. However, other sources indicate Pocatalico was an Indian word meaning "land of the fat deer." A reader of this page says, as he heard it, the story of the Indian claims he jumped off a rock cliff into the river and swam across. He says he knows of no rock cliff near enough to the river to jump into it, and he believes the "land of the fat deer" is the more likely origin. Rainelle - The origin of the town name shown above is taken from the West Virginia Blue Book. Warren Napier writes, "Jeff, I grew up in Rainelle, as did my older brothers, and my father knew the Raines pretty well. You're right about it being associated with the Raines, of course, but, as we were told, it also is from the wife of one of the gentlemen, 'Nelle' Raine." Rig - Shawn Simon of Altus, Oklahoma, writes, "There is a small town between Moorefield and Petersburg called Rig. My grandfather, Elmer Riggelman, founded the post office and general store there. In order for the place to have a post office it had to have a name, so the Post Master General called it Rig after my grandfather. There is no longer a post office there, so they get their mail from a rural route using the Moorefield zip code. Just though I'd share with you my family's little piece of WV history." Ten Mile - According to A Brief History of Ten Mile Community (1927) by Artie J. Norvell and Ruth Spiker, "There seems to have been a double reason for the naming of the village. The old settlers thought that the little stream flowing into the river was ten miles long so they named it Big Ten Mile Creek and its main branch they called Little Ten Mile Creek. They estimated the distance from the mouth of the stream to Buckhannon at ten miles so they named the village Ten Mile. About the year 1888 a post office was established near the mouth of Big Ten Mile Creek and named Sellars in honor of Colonel Sellars from Ohio who was a pioneer in the lumber industry in the community and at that time was operating one of the first saw mills in that section. A few years later the people had the name of the post office changed to Ten Mile." Wheeling - said to be from a Native American word for "place of the skull" According to an Internet website, "In an effort to warn and intimidate intruders, the chief and his warriors placed the decapitated head of a prisoner on a pole near the mouth of a small creek. Nothing could be clearer in meaning than a sun-bleached skull placed near the pathway into one of the richest hunting grounds existing in that time. Historians claim that the Delaware word Wihling,or Wih for head and -ling for place, has evolved to become Wheeling. Other variations reported are Weel-ung or Wih-lunk. Most writers agree that these are documented facts and are the origin of the name of Wheeling Creek and eventually of the city itself." A reader of this web page writes, "It's an Iroquois word(originally spelled 'Wheling') meaning 'the place of the skull,' and the reason for the name is that the heads of the first five white people in the area wound up on stakes at the mouth of what is now known as Big Wheeling Creek as a rather emphatic 'NO TRESPASSING' sign. Doesn't seem to have worked."