Wirt County, in northwestern West Virginia (WV), was established in 1848 and named for Maryland statesman William Wirt. Its county seat is at Elizabeth, on the Little Kanawha River, which flows across the county from southwest to northeast. Large parts of the county along the Little Kanawha and the Hughes River and their tributaries are in farmland.
The first oil boom in the United States erupted at Burning Springs, along the Little Kanawha in 1859. Oil had been discovered at Burning Springs earlier, but its uses had not been recognized. Wirt County is the least populated county in the West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, its population was 5,717.
Cities & Towns in Wirt County
Burning Springs, West Virginia
Creston, West Virginia
Elizabeth, West Virginia
Freeport, West Virginia
Greencastle, West Virginia
Munday, West Virginia
Palestine, West Virginia
Sanoma, West Virginia
Windy, West Virginia
Parks & Public Recreation Facilities
Burning Springs Park
Hughes Wildlife Management Area
Sportsmans Park (Elizabeth, WV)
Wells Lock Park
Wirt County Historic Landmarks
Kanawha Hotel (Elizabeth, WV)
Regional Information for Wirt County, West Virginia
Further information on lodging, dining, and recreation in Wirt County may be found in our guide to travel in the Heartland Region in central West Virginia, in which Wirt County is located. The county is also often considered part of Mid-Ohio Valley Region, in which travel information may also be found.
