Parkersburg

Parkersburg is a city at the meeting point of the Ohio River and the Little Kanawha River in Wood County, West Virginia. The downtown area spreads along the riverbank, where 19th-century brick buildings stand beside newer structures, and streets climb uphill toward the courthouse and residential neighborhoods.

The settlement began in 1785 as Neal's Station and took its current name in 1810 after Alexander Parker bought the land. The town grew during the 19th century into a trading center along the Ohio River, supported by river traffic and the railroad.

The city takes its name from Alexander Parker, a former landowner, while the Ohio River waterfront now draws locals who fish and walk along the promenade. On weekends families gather at the city park, where children play on equipment and older residents sit on benches beneath the trees.

The city sits right at the border with Ohio and can be reached via several bridges from the neighboring state. Visitors find most shops and services in the downtown area near the river, while public parking is available on surrounding streets.

Blennerhassett Island lies a few miles downstream and holds archaeological traces of an early 19th-century affair between Harman Blennerhassett and Aaron Burr. A ferry brings curious visitors to the island in summer, where a turn-of-the-century mansion has been reconstructed.