Mineral County, West Virginia

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 852 km² (329 mi²). 849 km² (328 mi²) of it is land and 4 km² (1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.43% water.

Related Topics:
U.S. Census Bureau - Km² - Mi²

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Mineral County is bordered to the west and north by the Potomac River. To the north lies Allegany County, Maryland and to the west lies Garrett County, Maryland. The eastern border of the county is the water shed between the North Branch of the Potomac River and the South Branch of the Potomac River. Hampshire County, West Virginia lies to the east, to the south is Grant County, West Virginia.

Related Topics:
Potomac River - Allegany County, Maryland - Garrett County, Maryland - Hampshire County, West Virginia - Grant County, West Virginia

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Mountains

The northern terminus of the Allegheny Front in West Virginia lies in Mineral County, and contains the highest point in the county. Known as the Pinnacle it is 3,104 feet above sea level. From the abandon fire tower you can see 4 states on a clear day, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. The Allegheny Front is the largest mountain in the county, on the north end it is also known as Green Mountain. On top of the Allegheny Plateau is located the town of Elk Garden, West Virginia in the southwestern portion of the county. The Potomac River Valley lies to west and north of the mountain, and the New Creek Valley lies to the east.

Related Topics:
Allegheny Front - Pennsylvania - Maryland - West Virginia - Virginia - Allegheny Plateau - Elk Garden, West Virginia - New Creek

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Knobly Mountain lies between the New Creek and Patterson Creek valleys. It is the longest mountain in Mineral County streching from the Grant County line in the south to the Potomac River in the north at Ridgeley, West Virginia.

Related Topics:
Knobly Mountain - Ridgeley, West Virginia

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To the east of the Pattersons Creek Valley lie a series of low hills which form the eastern border of the county with Hampshire County.

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Rivers

• North Branch of the Potomac River is the largest river, though not actually in the county. It forms the northern border of the county and the state border with actual border being the low water mark on the south side. Jennings Randolph Lake is located on this section of the Potomac River.
• New Creek enters the Potomac River at Keyser, West Virginia with the headwaters starting at Damn Site 14 in Grant County, West Virginia. It is the water supply for the city of Keyser.
• Pattersons Creek enters the Potomac River east of Cumberland, Maryland with the headwaters being in Grant County, West Virginia. Pattesons Creek is the watershed for 2/3's of the county.

Minerals

Mineral County is the eastern most West Virginia county with coal deposits. No coal is found east of the Allegheny Front, and coal mining is only found on top of the Allegheny Plateau.

Related Topics:
Coal - Allegheny Front - Allegheny Plateau

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Natural gas is found east of the Allegheny Front as well as iron ore deposits. The county no longer produces iron, but several abanodon iron furnaces from the 19th century still exist.

Related Topics:
Natural gas - Iron ore - Iron - Iron furnaces - 19th century

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