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I did not realize that. I do have some family from Parkersburg that frequent Pittsburgh on a more regular basis. But I figured that was outside the norm.
It really is not that far from Parkersburg to Pittsburgh. The roads on the "West Virginia side" stink because the state has not invested properly in infrastructure for WV 2, but if you cross over to the Ohio side and drive north to Bridgeport, or if you go up I 77 to Cambridge and go west on 70, it is maybe 2 1/2 hours to Pittsburgh. I would think, however, that Parkersburg would be closest to Columbus.
We go to Pittsburgh at least a dozen times a year - we love Pittsburgh. Usually take the I-77/70 route but every now & then the Rt. 2 up the river thru New Martinsville & Moundsville. Just a shame it's not a nice modern four lane highway, it would cut 30 minutes off the trip. Usually takes us exactly 2 hours to get to Washington, which I consider the outskirts of Pittsburgh. It's a nice drive either way.
I think Charles Town and Martinsburg are also highly influenced by Hagerstown, Maryland and by Baltimore to a lesser extent.
I don't think CHarleston is TOO isolated its only a few hours from Morgantown. Bluefield is only 3 hours from Charlotte, and also within 3 hours to Roanoke, Virginia.
Not really sure how you can separate Beckley & Fayetteville like that, considering that they share a metro area and have similar access to the same cultural and recreational amenities...
also, not really sure you can classify Summersville with decent growth potential since its the most isolated of all the listed cities and is likely the smallest town listed
We go to Pittsburgh at least a dozen times a year - we love Pittsburgh. Usually take the I-77/70 route but every now & then the Rt. 2 up the river thru New Martinsville & Moundsville. Just a shame it's not a nice modern four lane highway, it would cut 30 minutes off the trip. Usually takes us exactly 2 hours to get to Washington, which I consider the outskirts of Pittsburgh. It's a nice drive either way.
The fact that Route 2 is not an expressway from Weirton to Huntington is one of the great missteps of our state government. That route has great potential if it were to be developed. Connect that to I68 and it is a game changer for the Ohio Valley.
Although Clarksburg is about half way between Pittsburgh and Charleston (just a little closer to Charleston). it is more connected to it neighbors to the north. I know quite a few people from the Clarksburg area who regularly go shopping at the outlets near Washington, PA.
Atleast with people I know, there is a pull east to the Washington, DC/northern Virginia area as people have moved there for work in the federal government. A lot of north central WV'ians also go over to western Maryland for a day trip. I used to drive to Cumberland just for the heck of it and make a day out of it.
Once you get to Weston and points south, it's still connected to north central West Virginia/Pittsburgh but the influence is slowly transitioning to Charleston's sphere.
Southwestern Pennsylvania shares a connection with northern West Virginia as well as many go back and forth for jobs and recreational activities.
I have an older brother who lives in the Parkersburg area (Belpre, OH to be exact) and they usually go to Columbus for bigger city activities. Rarely do they go to Canton or Akron or south towards Charleston for anything except for major medical surgeries.
The Port of Huntington is the 8th largest port in the U.S. and the largest inland port in the nation,with Interstate 64 not to mention 1st class railroads they are not exactly isolated.Huntington has Marshall University a fine institution, shopping, night spots eateries they have their own uniqueness to them.Charleston has the casino dog track so we love going to both cities spending our money regionally.
Although Clarksburg is about half way between Pittsburgh and Charleston (just a little closer to Charleston). it is more connected to it neighbors to the north. I know quite a few people from the Clarksburg area who regularly go shopping at the outlets near Washington, PA.
Atleast with people I know, there is a pull east to the Washington, DC/northern Virginia area as people have moved there for work in the federal government. A lot of north central WV'ians also go over to western Maryland for a day trip. I used to drive to Cumberland just for the heck of it and make a day out of it.
Once you get to Weston and points south, it's still connected to north central West Virginia/Pittsburgh but the influence is slowly transitioning to Charleston's sphere.
Southwestern Pennsylvania shares a connection with northern West Virginia as well as many go back and forth for jobs and recreational activities.
I have an older brother who lives in the Parkersburg area (Belpre, OH to be exact) and they usually go to Columbus for bigger city activities. Rarely do they go to Canton or Akron or south towards Charleston for anything except for major medical surgeries.
Clarksburg is the southern terminus of NCWV, which is actually adjacent to the Pittsburgh area. There is no question it is far more connected to Pittsburgh than to Charleston, culturally, economically, and in every manner but politically. It is more than 130 miles to Charleston from there, and there is very little in between. The Washington PA suburb of Pittsburgh is only around 75 miles from Clarksburg on I79. Even Sutton would have more of a connection to Pittsburgh. From there south, though, I'd say Charleston does exert influence. There is simply nothing else remotely close.
The real connections in northern WV are with the Pittsburgh area, eastern Ohio, and western Maryland. Huntington has strong connections to Kentucky and southeast Ohio. Charleston is actually basically disconnected.
Last edited by CTMountaineer; 11-10-2013 at 07:27 PM..
The Port of Huntington is the 8th largest port in the U.S. and the largest inland port in the nation,with Interstate 64 not to mention 1st class railroads they are not exactly isolated.Huntington has Marshall University a fine institution, shopping, night spots eateries they have their own uniqueness to them.Charleston has the casino dog track so we love going to both cities spending our money regionally.
I have always felt that Huntington's future lies in being a transportation hub. They should be using every opportunity to develop that potential there, rather than the current focus. I will withhold comment on the Marshall situation in order to avoid starting an argument. Why the people in Huntington don't team up with Parkersburg and Wheeling to get Route 2 fully developed is beyond me. That would have mega implications for Huntington with the Ohio Valley gas and oil industry poised to take off like a rocket.
Wheeling staked a lot of its future in a casino too. Big mistake. It ended up ruining the entire south end of historic Wheeling Island. I hope they never even consider building one of those craptraps anywhere near Morgantown.
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