butterflykizzez04's VirtualTourist Home Page

Jackson County, West Virginia

Jackson County was formed in 1831. The county was created from parts of Kanawha, Mason and Wood Counties. The new county was named for then President of the United States, Andrew Jackson.

Located along the Ohio River and heavily wooded, early settlers traveled mostly by water. Roads were little more than Indian trails suited best for packhorses. Jackson Smith built the first actual road in 1832. It serviced travelers between Ripley and Millwood. Within twenty years, several turnpikes crossed the county. Although transportation was improved during the 1850’s, heavy use during the Civil War greatly damaged them. Many were not repaired until the ‘70s. By the 1880s, railroad travel became the primary means to transport goods.

During the Civil War, Jackson County was under Union control except for a brief period in 1862 when Confederate forces controlled the county.

Ripley is the County Seat of Jackson County and centrally located away from the Ohio River. The city was originally chartered in 1832. It was named in honor of Harry Ripley. The last public hanging in the state of West Virginia was executed in a field outside the town. More than 5,000 people attended the hanging of John F. Morgan. He had been tried and convicted of murdering Mrs. Chloe Green and her daughter with a hatchet. He also attacked a second daughter but she escaped and identified him as the murderer.

Ripley is now better known for the Cedar Lakes Conference Center, home of the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair. West Virginia’s oldest traditional art and craft fair, this event hosts the best artisans in the region and is held every year around the 4th of July weekend.

Ripley is divided down the middle by Mill Creek. The courthouse which is located downtown sits on the East side of the Creek.

This picture is of Court Street across from the courthouse.

If you get off I-77 at Ripley, your on the West side of town. The newer section with all the restaurants, Walmart, hotels, etc..once you cross the creek into downtown Ripley, you are in the older section..

which is my favorite section of town.

We have a section where the flags and memorials for our war veterans are located.

There are some benches there and picnic tables too, and some of the older men meet there to "gossip"

We have many restaurants to choose from in Ripley: Wendy's, Arby's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's, KFC, Cozemel's (mexican non fast food), Linda Lou's (non fast food), Chinese place I can never remember name of, McDonalds, McCoy's (non fast food), Ponderosa, Shoney's, Subway, Bob Evans, Domino's pizza, Fat Albert's pizza, Gino's pizza, Tudor's Biscuit world, Rocky's Subs, Fatello's (non fast food), Calamity Jane's Steak House (non fast food), Pete's Hotdogs, Dairy Queen, and Burger King.
Also can't for get the diner downtown across from Courthouse called the "Downtowner"..

We will not starve in Ripley..