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Pleasants County, one of the smallest of West Virginia's counties, lies by the Ohio River in the western part of the state. The county is divided into two nearly equal portions by Middle Island Creek. Within its borders, both fertile bottom land and the highlands of the Appalachian foothills can be found.
The area's first recorded permanent settlement was made by a pair of French brothers, Isaac and Jacob LaRue, in 1790. They had been awarded a grant of land in return for their service to the American cause during the Revolutionary War.
Pleasants County was formed from portions of three other counties -- Wood, Tyler and Ritchie -- in 1851. It was named after James Pleasants (1769-1836), governor of Virginia from 1822 to 1825. The population in 1860 was 2,945.
Agriculture and timber were for many years the major sources of income. These were supplanted starting in the 1890s by oil and gas. The oil fields proved to be extremely productive and brought great wealth to the area. While the boom period lasted less than 20 years, oil and gas are still significant sources of revenue. The majority of the county's population now find employment in nearby industries and in agriculture.
St. Marys, the county seat, is located on the banks of the Ohio. The town was founded by Alexander Creel in 1849. According to legend, Creel was traveling by steamboat down the Ohio when he beheld a vision of the Virgin Mary who told him that a city founded at the joining of the Ohio River and Middle Island Creek would be happy and prosperous. Creel bought the land, marked off the streets for his city, and named it in honor of the Virgin Mary.
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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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