West Virginia Explorer

Pleasants County, West Virginia

In Pleasants County, West Virginia Explorer editor David Sibray walks a trail network on Middle Island.

In Pleasants County, David Sibray walks a trail network on Middle Island at Saint Marys in the wildlife refuge.


Pleasants County, in northwestern West Virginia, was created in 1851 and named for statesman James Pleasants. Its county seat is at Saint Marys, which is located on the Ohio River at the mouth of Middle Island Creek. The Ohio River courses along the county’s northwest border, known for its pastoral landscapes and water recreation.

Pleasants County’s landscape is primarily rural, and much of the land outside the Ohio Valley is wooded or agricultural. Its chief cities and suburban and industrialized areas are on the level bottoms and terraces along the Ohio River.

Its primary employment sources are manufacturing, health care, social assistance, and educational services. Remote-work employment is increasingly a sector. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 7,605.

Several tributary streams wander through the interior ridges to join the Ohio. Middle Island Creek, in the north, is the largest, followed to the southwest by French Creek, Cow Creek, and Bull Creek. The river and its tributaries are popular destinations for fishing and boating.

Middle Island, at Saint Marys, is one of the few islands on the Ohio River in West Virginia accessible by bridge.

Cities & Towns in Pleasants County, West Virginia

  • Belmont, West Virginia
  • Eureka, West Virginia
  • Saint Marys, West Virginia
  • Schultz, West Virginia
  • Willow Island, West Virginia
The Pleasants County (West Virginia) Courthouse was built on a rise overlooking the bottoms along the Ohio River at Saint Marys.

The Pleasants County (West Virginia) Courthouse was built on a rise overlooking the bottoms along the Ohio River at Saint Marys.

Parks & Public Recreation

  • Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge
  • Pleasants County Park (Saint Marys, WV)
  • Middle Island Creek Water Trail
  • French Creek Water Trail
  • Ohio River Wildlife Refuge Trail

Pleasants County Historic Landmarks

Cain House (Saint Marys, WV)

Regional Information for Pleasants County, West Virginia

Further information on lodging, dining, and recreation in Pleasants County, West Virginia, may be found in our guide to travel in the Mid-Ohio Valley Region in northwestern West Virginia, in which the county is located. Further information may also be found through the Pleasants  Area Chamber of Commerce.

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