Near Petroleum in Ritchie County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Ritchie County / Wirt County

Ritchie County<br>(<i>west side of marker; facing toward Wirt County</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2014

1. Ritchie County
(west side of marker; facing toward Wirt County)

Inscription. Ritchie CountyFormed in 1843 from Lewis, Harrison and Wood. Named for Thomas Ritchie, Virginia journalist. In 1772, Elias and Jesse Hughes and Colonel William Lowther explored this region to the Ohio. Hughes River was named by them.
Wirt CountyFormed, 1848, from Wood and Jackson. Named for William Wirt, who was prominent in the prosecution of Aaron Burr. Development of the Burning Springs oil fields started in 1859, year of the Titusville, Pennsylvania oil boom.

Erected 1964 by West Virginia Historic Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Political Subdivisions. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list.

Location. 39° 7.857′ N, 81° 17.964′ W. Marker is near Petroleum, West Virginia, in Ritchie County. Marker is on Staunton Turnpike (West Virginia Route 47) one mile west of Cairo-Cisco Road (County Road 15), on the left when traveling west. Marker is located in a pull-out on the south side of the highway, just east of the Ritchie County / Wirt County line, in Ritchie County. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Petroleum WV 26161, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Camp Kootaga (approx. 3.7 miles away); Wells Lock and Dam No. 3 (approx. 6½ miles away); Cairo & Kanawha (approx. 6.6 miles away); Beauchamp-Newman Museum (approx. 6.8 miles away); Wirt County Honor Roll (approx. 6.9 miles away); Elizabeth (approx. 6.9 miles away); Historical Elizabeth (approx. 6.9 miles away); Volcano, West Virginia (approx. 7 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Ritchie County, West Virginia. In 1911, historian Minnie Kendall Lowther published "The History of Ritchie County." Her book is still regarded as one of the most comprehensive histories of any county in West Virginia. (Submitted on February 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Wirt County, West Virginia. Burning Springs was the site of an oil rush in the 1860s. In 1863 the town was burned, along with 100,000 gallons of oil, by Confederate cavalrymen. (Submitted on February 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Wirt County<br>(<i>east side of marker; facing toward Ritchie County</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2014

2. Wirt County
(east side of marker; facing toward Ritchie County)

Wirt County Marker (<i>tall view; looking west from Stuanton Turnpike</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2014

3. Wirt County Marker (tall view; looking west from Stuanton Turnpike)

Ritchie County Marker (<i>wide view; looking east along Staunton Turnpike</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2014

4. Ritchie County Marker (wide view; looking east along Staunton Turnpike)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 267 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.