List of West Virginia covered bridges
Encyclopedia
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
s in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. Only three of these bridges were built before 1870 and they are the three longest in the state. Each uses a standard truss design, braced with the Burr Arch. No one-truss design dominates in the state. The bridges are located in three general areas. In the south in Monroe and Greenbrier counties there are about a half dozen bridges within an easy drive of one another. To the north around Philippi is another group of bridges, including the historic Philippi Covered Bridge
Philippi Covered Bridge
The Philippi Covered Bridge, on the Tygart River, is the main local landmark and historical icon of Philippi, West Virginia, USA.The celebrated bridge was commissioned by the General Assembly of Virginia and constructed in 1852 by Lemuel Chenoweth, a well-known Appalachian bridge builder, to...
which is the longest (285 feet (86.9 m)) and an important part of state history for its associations with the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Existing bridges
The following is a list of the 17 extant West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
s.
| Name | Image | Location | Year Built | Design, Length and Historical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrackville Covered Bridge Barrackville Covered Bridge The Barrackville Covered Bridge spans in a single span across Buffalo Creek near Barrackville, West Virginia. Built by in 1853 by local bridge builder Lemuel Chenoweth, the structure is a modified arched Burr truss, with siding added twenty years after the bridge's construction.It was listed on... |
|
Barrackville, West Virginia
Barrackville is a town in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,288 at the 2000 census. Barrackville was founded in 1767 by William "Indian Billy" Ice and named in honor of an early settler, John Barrack...
, Marion County
Marion County, West Virginia
| style="float:right;"|As of the census of 2000, there were 56,598 people, 23,652 households, and 15,515 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 26,660 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile...
| 1853
| Multiple King Post, Burr Arch, 146 feet (44.5 m) long over Buffalo Creek. Built by Chenoweth
Lemuel Chenoweth
Lemuel Chenoweth was a carpenter, legislator and self-educated architect. He is best-known as one of nineteenth century America's master covered bridge builders....
.
|-
| Carrollton Covered Bridge
Carrollton Covered Bridge
The Carrollton Covered Bridge, in Barbour County, West Virginia, USA, is the second longest and third oldest surviving covered bridge in the state. The wooden bridge spans the Buckhannon River near Carrollton and was built in 1856. It underwent repairs in 1978 and was added to the National Register...
|
| Carrollton
Carrollton, West Virginia
Carrollton is an unincorporated community in Barbour County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Carrollton is known for its Carrollton Covered Bridge over the Buckhannon River, listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
, Barbour County
Barbour County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there are 15,557 people, 6,123 households, and 4,365 families residing in the county. The population density is 46 people per square mile . There are 7,348 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
| 1856
| Multiple King Post, Burr Arch, 141 feet (43 m) long over Buckhannon River
|-
| Center Point Covered Bridge
Center Point Covered Bridge
The Center Point Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge near Center Point, Doddridge County, West Virginia, USA.It was commissioned by the County Court and was built between 1888 and 1890. It spans Pike's Fork of McElroy Creek. The masons were T.C. Ancell and E. Underwood . The carpenters...
|
| Center Point
Center Point, West Virginia
Center Point is an unincorporated community in northeastern Doddridge County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along Route 23 northeast of the town of West Union, the county seat of Doddridge County. Its elevation is 791 feet...
, Doddridge County
Doddridge County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,403 people, 2,845 households, and 2,102 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile . There were 3,661 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
| 1888
| Long Truss, 42 feet (12.8 m) long over Pike Fork of McElroy Creek
|-
| Dents Run Covered Bridge
Dents Run Covered Bridge
Dents Run Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge located near Laurel Point, Monongalia County, West Virginia. It was built in 1889, and spans Dents Run. The bridge is of Kingpost truss construction and measures 12 feet, 10 inches wide and 40 feet long...
|
| Laurel Point, Monongalia County
Monongalia County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 81,866 people, 33,446 households, and 18,495 families residing in the county. The population density was 227 people per square mile . There were 36,695 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile...
| 1889
| King Post
King post
A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in architectural, bridge, or aircraft design applications.-Architecture:...
, 40 feet (12.2 m) long over Dents Run
|-
| Fish Creek Covered Bridge
Fish Creek Covered Bridge
The Fish Creek Covered Bridge was built circa 1881 near Hundred, West Virginia. The kingpost truss bridge spans only . It is the last remaining covered bridge in Wetzel County and one of two remaining single kingpost truss bridges in West Virginia. The bridge has been structurally reinforced with...
|
| Hundred
Hundred, West Virginia
Hundred is a town in Wetzel County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 344 at the 2000 census. It was named for Henry Church and his wife, the first settlers who lived to be 109 and 106. Hundred is the only place in the United States with this name.Hundred is so named because Henry...
, Wetzel County
Wetzel County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,693 people, 7,164 households, and 5,079 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile . There were 8,313 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
| 1881
| King Post
King post
A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in architectural, bridge, or aircraft design applications.-Architecture:...
, 30 feet (9.1 m) long over Fish Creek
|-
| Fletcher Covered Bridge
Fletcher Covered Bridge
The Fletcher Covered Bridge is a Multiple King Post covered bridge located near Marshville in Harrison County, West Virginia. The bridge crosses Tenmile Creek is West Virginia bridge number 48-17-03. Stones for the abutments were quarried at the top of a hill near the bridge site...
aka "Ten Mile Creek Covered Bridge"
|
| Cutler, Harrison County
Harrison County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 68,652 people, 27,867 households, and 19,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 165 people per square mile . There were 31,112 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile...
| 1891
| Multiple King Post
King post
A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in architectural, bridge, or aircraft design applications.-Architecture:...
, 58 feet (17.7 m) long over Tenmile Creek
|-
| Herns Mill Covered Bridge
Herns Mill Covered Bridge
Herns Mill Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge near Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. It was built in 1884, and is a Queen post truss bridge measuring 10 feet, 6 inches wide and 53 feet, 8 inches long. It has red board-and-batten siding and a galvanized sheet metal...
aka "Milligan Creek Covered Bridge"
|
| Asbury
Asbury, West Virginia
Asbury is an unincorporated community in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. Asbury is located on West Virginia Route 12 northeast of Alderson. Asbury has a post office with ZIP code 24916....
, Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
| 1884
| Queen post
Queen post
A queen post is a supporting post designed to span longer openings than a king post. A king post uses one central supporting post, whereas the queen post uses two.-Architecture:...
, 54 feet (16.5 m) long over Milligans Creek
|-
| Hokes Mill Covered Bridge
Hokes Mill Covered Bridge
Hokes Mill Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge at Ronceverte, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. It was built between 1897 and 1899, and measures 12 feet wide and 81.6 feet long. It has red board-and-batten siding and a standing seam metal roof...
aka "Second Creek Covered Bridge"
|
| Hokes Mill
Hokes Mill, West Virginia
Hokes Mill is an unincorporated community in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. Hokes Mill is southwest of Ronceverte....
, Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
| 1899
| Long Truss, 82 feet (25 m) long over Second Creek
|-
| Indian Creek Covered Bridge
Indian Creek Covered Bridge
The Indian Creek Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge near US 219, about 4 miles away from Salt Sulphur Springs, in Monroe County, West Virginia, U.S.A.. It is owned by the Monroe County Historical Society, and was originally built in 1898 by Ray and Oscar Weikel...
|
| Union
Union, West Virginia
Union is a town in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 548 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County.-History:...
, Monroe County
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
| 1903
| Long Truss, 48 feet (14.6 m) long over Indian Creek
|-
| Laurel Creek Covered Bridge
Laurel Creek Covered Bridge
Laurel Creek Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge located near Lillydale, Monroe County, West Virginia. It was built in 1910, and measures 34 feet, 6 inches long and 13 feet, 2 1/2 inches wide. It has wood siding painted red and a galvanized metal roof...
aka "Lily Dale Covered Bridge"
|
| Lillydale, Monroe County
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
| 1911
| Howe Truss, 22 feet (6.7 m) long over Laurel Creek
|-
| Locust Creek Covered Bridge
|
| Hillsboro
Hillsboro, West Virginia
Hillsboro is a town in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census.- History :Hillsboro was named for pioneer John Hill, from North Carolina, who built a log cabin near what is now Lobelia...
, Pocahontas County
Pocahontas County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,131 people, 835 households, and 527 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 7,594 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
| 1870
| Warren Truss, 113 feet (34.4 m) long over Monroe Creek
|-
| Mud River Covered Bridge
Mud River Covered Bridge
Mud River Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge over the Mud River at Milton, Cabell County, West Virginia. It was built about 1875, and is a single-span, modified Howe truss structure. It measures approximately 112 feet in length and 14 feet in width...
|
| Milton
Milton, West Virginia
Milton is a town in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,206 at the 2000 census.Milton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649...
, Cabell County
Cabell County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 96,784 people, 41,180 households, and 25,490 families residing in the county. The population density was 344 people per square mile . There were 45,615 housing units at an average density of 162 per square mile...
| 1876
| Howe Truss, 108 feet (32.9 m) long over Mud River
|-
| Philippi Covered Bridge
Philippi Covered Bridge
The Philippi Covered Bridge, on the Tygart River, is the main local landmark and historical icon of Philippi, West Virginia, USA.The celebrated bridge was commissioned by the General Assembly of Virginia and constructed in 1852 by Lemuel Chenoweth, a well-known Appalachian bridge builder, to...
|
| Philippi
Philippi, West Virginia
Philippi is a city in — and the county seat of — Barbour County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 2,870 at the 2000 census. In 1861, the city was the site of the Battle of Philippi, known as "The Philippi Races"...
, Barbour County
Barbour County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there are 15,557 people, 6,123 households, and 4,365 families residing in the county. The population density is 46 people per square mile . There are 7,348 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
| 1852
| Long Truss with Burr Arch, 285 feet (86.9 m) long over Tygart Valley River. Built by Chenoweth
Lemuel Chenoweth
Lemuel Chenoweth was a carpenter, legislator and self-educated architect. He is best-known as one of nineteenth century America's master covered bridge builders....
.
|-
| Sarvis Fork Covered Bridge
Sarvis Fork Covered Bridge
Sarvis Fork Covered Bridge, also known as Sandyville Covered Bridge, is a historic covered bridge located near Sandyville, Jackson County, West Virginia. It was built in 1889-1890 for $64.00 by R. B. Cunningham and G.W. Staats, originally spanning John Carnahan's Fork, a branch of Mill Creek...
aka "Sandy Creek Covered Bridge"
|
| Sandyville
Sandyville, West Virginia
Sandyville is an unincorporated community in north central Jackson County, West Virginia, United States. It lies close to the left fork of Sandy Creek, nestled in the hills between Ravenswood and Ripley. It has a population of 1,721 and an average household income of $41,122....
, Jackson County
| 1889
| Long Truss, 101 feet (30.8 m) long over Left Fork Sandy Creek
|-
| Simpson Creek Covered Bridge
Simpson Creek Covered Bridge
Simpson Creek Covered Bridge is located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, crossing Simpson Creek off Meadowbrook Road near the entrance to the Meadowbrook Mall. The , multiple-kingpost truss bridge was built in 1881 by Asa Hugill. The current location of the bridge is not the original location...
aka "Hollens Mill Covered Bridge"
|
| Bridgeport
Bridgeport, West Virginia
Bridgeport is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,306 at the 2000 census.The town of Bridgeport had its beginning in pre-Revolutionary War times. In 1764, John Simpson entered the area and gave his name to Simpson Creek. Bridgeport was chartered in 1816....
, Harrison County
Harrison County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 68,652 people, 27,867 households, and 19,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 165 people per square mile . There were 31,112 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile...
| 1881
| Multiple King Post
King post
A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in architectural, bridge, or aircraft design applications.-Architecture:...
, 74 feet (22.6 m) long over Simpson Creek
|-
| Staats Mill Covered Bridge
Staats Mill Covered Bridge
Staats Mill Covered Bridge, also known as Tug Fork Covered Bridge, is a historic wooden covered bridge near Ripley in Jackson County, West Virginia, United States. Built in 1887, the Staats Mill Covered Bridge originally crossed the Tug Fork of Big Mill Creek and was named for Enoch Staat's...
|
| Ripley
Ripley, West Virginia
Ripley is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, West Virginia, United States.-Geography:Ripley is located at , along Mill Creek....
, Jackson County
| 1887
| Long Truss, 97 feet (29.6 m). Originally over Tug Fork, Big Mill Creek.
|-
| Walkersville Covered Bridge
Walkersville Covered Bridge
Walkersville Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge near Walkersville, Lewis County, West Virginia. It was built in 1903, and is a Queen post truss bridge measuring 12 feet, 1 1/2 inches wide and 39 feet, 4 inches long. It has red board-and-batten siding and a standing seam metal roof...
|
| Walkersville
Walkersville, West Virginia
Walkersville is an unincorporated community in Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. Walkersville is south of Weston. Walkersville has a post office with ZIP code 26447....
, Lewis County
Lewis County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,919 people, 6,946 households, and 4,806 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 7,944 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
| 1908
| Queen post
Queen post
A queen post is a supporting post designed to span longer openings than a king post. A king post uses one central supporting post, whereas the queen post uses two.-Architecture:...
, 54 feet (16.5 m) long over Right Fork of West Fork River
|-
|}
Former bridges
The following is a list of no longer extant West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
covered bridges. A complete list of covered bridges that have existed at one time or another in the state would exceed 100.
- Beverly Covered Bridge, 1847, Randolph County, Chenoweth's first bridge (destroyed).
- Audra Covered Bridge, 18??, Audra, Barbour County (Burnt, 1940s)
- Paw Paw Creek Covered Bridge, 18??, Grant Town, West VirginiaGrant Town, West VirginiaGrant Town is a town in Marion County, West Virginia, in the eastern United States. The population was 657 at the 2000 census.The town was formed in 1901 with the opening of the Federal Coal and Coke Company bituminous coal mine, and was named for Robert Grant, vice president of the coal company. ...
, Marion County (Destroyed in Flood, August 1980) - Middle Fork Covered Bridge, 18?? (Chenoweth; destroyed).
- Buckhannon Covered Bridge, 18?? (Chenoweth; destroyed).
- West Union Covered Bridge, 18?? across Middle Island Creek (Destroyed in Flood, June 1950).
- Weston Covered Bridge, 18??, across Stonecoal CreekStonecoal CreekStonecoal Creek is a tributary of the West Fork River, long, in north-central West Virginia in the United States. Via the West Fork, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau...
, (Chenoweth; destroyed). - Cheat Bridge Covered Bridge, 18??, across Cheat RiverCheat RiverThe Cheat River is a tributary of the Monongahela River in eastern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Via the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed, ultimately draining into the Gulf of Mexico.-Geography:The Cheat is formed at...
at Cheat BridgeCheat Bridge, West VirginiaCheat Bridge is an unincorporated community in southeastern Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. It is located near U.S. Route 250's crossing of Shavers Fork.-The bridge:...