Founded in 1819 Weston was established in 1817 as the county seat of Lewis County, originally named Preston and later Fleshersville, before officially becoming Weston in 1819. The construction of the Staunton-Parkersburg and Weston & Gauley Bridge turnpikes, along with Irish and German immigration, fueled its growth. In 1858, Weston was selected to host Virginia's third mental health hospital, completed in 1880 amid the Civil War. The hospital significantly boosted the local economy, leading to the establishment of a narrow gauge railroad to Clarksburg in 1879 and bringing prosperity that included public schools, infrastructure, and a quadrupling of the population between 1865 and 1900. The turn of the century saw Weston become a glass-manufacturing center due to natural gas discoveries, with its population doubling before 1930. Despite the Great Depression, Weston maintained a diverse economy, with coal mining contributing to local commerce post-World War II. The glass industry thrived until facing foreign competition. The city's population peaked at 8,945 in 1950 but dropped to 3,943 by 2020, making it West Virginia's 32nd largest city. Although the closure of plants and the end of mining eliminated rail service, new developments emerged with Interstate 79 and Corridor H. The Stonewall Jackson Dam and Lake mitigated flooding, while new schools and hospitals were built in the 1980s and '90s. The former Weston State Hospital is now a tourist attraction known as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, featuring a museum and tours.
Notable people
West Fork River - former state hospital in background
- Louis Bennett Jr., World War I flying ace
- William Thomas Bland, congressman
- Charlie Brown, World War II USAAF pilot
- Andrew Edmiston, Jr., congressman
- John William Hamilton, bishop
- Buddy Hayes, musician
- Rush D. Holt, Sr., senator
- Rush D. Holt, Jr., congressman
- Jason Koon, poker player
- Lewis Maxwell, congressman
- Alexander Scott Withers, author
- Fred Wyant, football player
