Wellsburg

History

The town was laid out in 1790, and its post office was opened on September 1, 1870. In 1772, the Cox brothers, Friend, Israel, and Jonathan, made tomahawk rights claims totaling in the area now including Wellsburg. In March 1788, Charles Prather purchased from the Cox heirs for $3,000. In 1791, Prather petitioned Ohio County to incorporate the town of Charlestown, Virginia, naming it after himself. The original name continued until 1816, when it was changed to Wellsburg, to avoid confusion with Charles Town, Jefferson County. The new name was in honor of Alexander Wells, Charles Prather's son-in-law, builder of the first large flour warehouse in the east. Late in 1890, nearby Midway and Lazearville were annexed to Wellsburg. Wellsburg was the home of Patrick Gass, the last surviving member of the Lewis and Clark expedition and author of a memoir of the famous journey. Here also was the home of Joseph Doddridge, author of Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars. In 1832, the original Grimes Golden apple tree was found just east of Wellsburg. The first glass factory in Western Virginia was built at Wellsburg in 1813.

Geography

Wellsburg is located at (40.277370, -80.609349), along the Ohio River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity