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Doddridge County was formed in 1845 from parts of Harrison, Tyler, Ritchie and Lewis counties. It was named in honor of Phillip Doddridge (1772-1832), a United States congressman and Virginia state legislator.
The terrain of the county is hilly, with only a small amount of level land along the streams and creeks. The land is drained primarily by Middle Island Creek, so named from Middle Island on the Ohio River near the creek's mouth.
Doddridge County was first settled about 1800, and by 1850 it had a population of approximately 8,000.
The completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad through the county in 1857 brought about the beginning of the county's industrial development. Lumbering, especially the production of cross-ties for the expanding railroads, was the county's first industry.
The most lucrative industry, however, has always been the extraction of oil and natural gas. Though drilling started in the county in the 1880s, it was not until 1892 that the oil boom began. The Crash of 1929 brought an end to the oil and gas boom, but there was a resurgency of this industry in the 1960s.
West Union, the county seat, was first settled about 1807 by the Davis Family. Known as Lewisport or Union until the completion of the railroad station in 1857, West Union was incorporated in 1881.
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(From E. Lee North's 'The 55 West Virginias,' published by West Virginia University Press. Used with permission.)
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