History :

Cradled in the southern tip of West Virginia, Wyoming County is rich in both history and natural beauty. Rushing brooks; mighty mountains; and wild, wooded areas make up its rugged topography, with small communities and three diminutive municipalities—Mullens, Oceana, and Pineville—dotting the landscape. Named for an Indian word meaning "large plain," Wyoming County was created from Logan County in 1850.

Much of the county's history is tied to once-abundant natural resources. At the turn of the last century, King Coal dominated the land and ruled how and where most of its inhabitants worked and lived. Despite the eventual demise of coal as the county's chief industry, the region is still a showcase of earlier coal company heydays. Remains of coal tipples, miners' camps, and old mines now draw tourists.

The Wyoming County seat, Pineville, is home to both manmade and natural historic markers. The county courthouse, built in 1916, and the adjoining jail, constructed in 1929, are on the National Registry of Historic Places. Built of native stone by Italian stonemasons, the courthouse has been recently renovated to its original elegance. Chandeliers once again illuminate the lobby, and the restored trim on the lobby ceiling reflects the workmanship and attention to architectural detail of the building's first craftsmen.