Kingwood in Preston County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Preston County Courthouse
Frontiers to Mountaineers Heritage Tourism
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2010
1. Preston County Courthouse Marker
Inscription.
Preston County Courthouse. Frontiers to Mountaineers Heritage Tourism. First settled in 1807, Kingwood was named for the grove of trees located where the courthouse now stands. On January 19, 1818, the Commonwealth of Virginia created Preston as its 35th county. Kingwood from its beginning has served as the territorial and county seat. In 1861, when Virginia voted to secede from the Union, Prestonians indicated in a resolution, read at the courthouse by William G. Brown and James C. McGrew their desire to become a separate state and remain in the Union. West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863. Preston County led the entire United States in Union patriotism by volunteering the largest percentage of its population to government service during the Civil War. Built in 1930, the current Art Deco style building was constructed of pink sandstone. On the courthouse lawn is a cannon last fired in April 1861 in defense of Fort Sumter. The Preston County Jail, built in 1925, sits just west of the courthouse.
First settled in 1807, Kingwood was named for the grove of trees located where the courthouse now stands. On January 19, 1818, the Commonwealth of Virginia created Preston as its 35th county. Kingwood from its beginning has served as the territorial and county seat. In 1861, when Virginia voted to secede from the Union, Prestonians indicated in a resolution, read at the courthouse by William G. Brown and James C. McGrew their desire to become a separate state and remain in the Union. West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863. Preston County led the entire United States in Union patriotism by volunteering the largest percentage of its population to government service during the Civil War. Built in 1930, the current Art Deco style building was constructed of pink sandstone. On the courthouse lawn is a cannon last fired in April 1861 in defense of Fort Sumter. The Preston County Jail, built in 1925, sits just west of the courthouse.
Erected by Preservation Alliance of West Virginia and the Benedum Foundation.
39° 28.314′ N, 79° 41.25′ W. Marker is in Kingwood, West Virginia, in Preston County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (State Highway 7) and Price Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Located on the grounds of the Preston County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kingwood WV 26537, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker is at the edge of this photo, to the left.
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2010
3. 42-pdr Banded Seacoast Gun
This 42-pdr gun, cast by Tredegar Foundry, Richmond Virginia, stands on the Courthouse yard. While the marker indicates it was present at Fort Sumter, the band on the back was added during the war by a company in Charleston, South Carolina.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,115 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 20, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
