Gilmer County, West Virginia
Gilmer County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,408, making it West Virginia's fifth-least populous county. Its county seat is Glenville. The county was formed in 1845 from parts of Lewis and Kanawha Counties, and named for Thomas Walker Gilmer, Governor of Virginia from 1840 to 1841. Gilmer was later a representative in the United States Congress and Secretary of the Navy in President John Tyler's cabinet.
Gilmer County | |
|---|---|
The Gilmer County Courthouse in Glenville | |
|
Seal | |
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia | |
West Virginia's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 38°55′N 80°51′W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| Founded | February 3, 1845 |
| Named for | Thomas Walker Gilmer |
| Seat | Glenville |
| Largest town | Glenville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 340 sq mi (900 km2) |
| • Land | 339 sq mi (880 km2) |
| • Water | 1.6 sq mi (4 km2) 0.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 7,408 |
| • Estimate (2021) | 7,377 |
| • Density | 22/sq mi (8.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Cedar Creek State Park offers camping, fishing, swimming, and hiking. The West Virginia State Folk Festival is held each June. Glenville State University has a community activity center, a state-of-the-art library, and a complete collection of hand-carved, West Virginia–native birds on public display. The Gilmer County Recreation Center Complex includes a small golf course, a convention / reunion hall, and bunk houses. Gilmer County is home to ten nationally registered historic landmarks, the Cedar Creek Backway, and the annual West Virginia Folk Festival. Media outlets for the community include The Glenville Democrat and The Glenville Pathfinder, the county's two newspapers.
Gilmer County is also the site of Federal Correctional Institution, Gilmer, a federal medium security prison for men and the county's largest employer.
As of 2023, Gilmer County has one permanent traffic light. It is located in the town of Glenville.