Northern panhandle of West Virginia

Coordinates: 40°10′N 80°35′W / 40.167°N 80.583°W / 40.167; -80.583
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Virginia panhandle" redirects here. For the panhandle-like area of Virginia, see Southwest Virginia. For the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, see Eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

Northern panhandle
Map of counties in the northern panhandle. Red denotes counties physically part of the region, while light red denotes counties considered to belong to the region culturally, but not physically.
Map of counties in the northern panhandle. Red denotes counties physically part of the region, while light red denotes counties considered to belong to the region culturally, but not physically.
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
Largest cityWheeling
Other cities
List
Population
 (2020 Census)
 • Total147,425 (All counties)
124,670 (Excluding Tyler and Wetzel Counties)
EDT
)

The northern panhandle is one of the two

Colony of Pennsylvania
's royal charter. The conflict was settled by compromise in the 1780s.

In 2013, its northernmost two counties were included in the

Pittsburgh consolidated area by the U.S. Census.[1]

Geography

Composition

The following counties, listed from north to south, are universally accepted as being part of the northern panhandle:

Most West Virginians also include Wetzel County, and sometimes Tyler County, directly to the south of Marshall County, as a part of the northern panhandle, although they do not lie strictly within the northern extension.[2] Prior to the 2020 redistricting, they formed the core of West Virginia's 1st congressional district.

Demographics

The region had a total combined population of 132,295, counting counties only physically on the panhandle, and 158,086 counting Wetzel and Tyler counties as of the

2010 census. In the 2020 census, the populations were 124,670 and 147,425, respectively. This constitutes a drop of 5.76% and 7.23%, keeping with the overall population trends of the Rust Belt
.

The northern counties of the northern panhandle comprise part of the

Greater Pittsburgh. The southern counties are part of the Wheeling, WV–OH Metropolitan Area
.

Economy

In the late nineteenth century, the northern panhandle developed as an industrial area, especially in the manufacturing of steel and glass products. It still largely retains its industrial character, although many of its factories have closed down or fallen on hard times like others in the Rust Belt. The region also contains the panhandle coalfield.

Banks in these counties are serviced by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, while the rest of West Virginia is in the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Education

The region houses three four-year colleges: the

public West Liberty University and the private Bethany College and Wheeling University. All five counties listed in this article, plus Tyler County, are located within the service area of West Virginia Northern Community College
.

See also

References

  1. ^ "OMB Bulletin" (PDF). obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Regional Map". West Virginia Department of Commerce. Archived from the original on November 25, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2013.

40°10′N 80°35′W / 40.167°N 80.583°W / 40.167; -80.583

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