You're Going to Love it Here - Discover life in the mid-ohio valley

The Mid-Ohio Valley (MOV) offers endless opportunities for adventure and relaxation. Explore an area rich with outdoor activities, such as hiking and golf, or immerse yourself in community events that are the cultural heart of Parkersburg, like fairs, festivals and award-winning restaurants, bars and wineries. Enjoy art exhibits, musical performances, local sports, historic landmarks there’s something for everyone here.

 

Life and opportunity In the Mid-Ohio Valley

The Parkersburg area is a great place to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Heritage is the defining characteristic of the charming towns and riverfront cities in our valley. Composed of manufacturing, finance, and healthcare, to some of the most successful, fastest-growing companies in the world, our community is welcoming to everyone. From its family-friendly lifestyle its quality education, business-friendly infrastructure, and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, the MOV appeals to young professionals, growing families, long-time residents alike.

Affordability & Convenience –  Quality Of Life in Parkersburg WV

  • Low Cost of Living – The cost of living in Parkersburg, WV is 15-19% below the national average.
  • Short Commutes – The average commute time in Parkersburg is 22 minutes, ten minutes below the national average.
  • Family Friendly – Parkersburg and the surrounding Mid-Ohio Valley, offer a family-friendly lifestyle.
  • Outdoor Activities – Parkersburg alone boasts 130 acres of parkland, providing access to state parks, fitness centers, golf courses, geocaching, and more opportunities for nature lovers and adventurers.
  • Educational Opportunities – The Mid-Ohio Valley offers quality education, with highly rated public and private schools, as well as nearby higher education institutions.
  • Top-Tier Healthcare – The MOV region is home to state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, including WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center (CCMC), ensuring residents have easy access to receiving exceptional care.
  • Vibrant Nightlife – From live music venues and breweries to local restaurants and cultural festivals, the nightlife in Parkersburg and the Mid-Ohio Valley provides something for everyone.

 

A SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG HEART

Whether you bleed gold and blue or scarlet and gray, moving to the Mid-Ohio Valley will introduce you to a strong family-oriented community. The region is known for its love of sports with not only a love of sports and unparalleled community involvement. Residents here are always eager to lend a helping hand, be it fundraising for a community member who has been diagnosed with cancer, passing local levies to improve our schools and libraries, shopping at the local ‘mom and pop’ shops, or finding ways to preserve the area’s history.

Parkersburg: The Heart of the Mid-Ohio Valley
The Mid-Ohio Valley spans both Ohio and West Virginia, with Parkersburg, WV at its heart.  

Travel and Commute:
The West Virginia-Ohio border location offers residents convenience access to larger cities. From Parkersburg, you can easily travel to Athens, OH, Columbus, OH, Morgantown WV, or Charleston for work, entertainment, or shopping.

Things To Do: Parks, Entertainment, Events, & Activities
Parkersburg has 130 acres of parkland and stunning entertainment venues, like the picturesque Point Park along the Ohio River, which are perfect backdrops for a city poised for growth and opportunity. Each year, the annual Taste of Parkersburg event attracts thousands of foodies and wine lovers to downtown Parkersburg. Across the river in Marietta, stands the historic Lafayette Hotel in the charming town featuring broad tree-lined brick streets. Each year, the annual Ohio Sternwheel Festival attracts thousands of visitors to Front Street. Quality showcases like these are just a part of what makes the MOV such a great place to live, work and come home to.

West Virginia Quality of Life
The Mid-Ohio Valley offers incomparable natural beauty with the convenience of mild weather. But that’s only the beginning. In addition to being a family-oriented community, there are low crime rates, low commuting times and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, combined with lower-than-average cost of living, excellent education systems and an abundance of opportunities for families and those starting their careers. The MOV is a premier choice to raise a family, retire, or just enjoy a better overall quality of life.

history. charm. southern hospitality.

Discover all that is in the Mid-Ohio Valley

Outdoor Activities and Adventures
The Mid-Ohio Valley’s convenient location gives access to boating and water sports on the Ohio River as well as nearby lakes. The area is rich with other popular outdoor activities such as: hiking, biking, golf, rock climbing, zip lining, and geocaching are also nearby.

Places of Interest & Discovering the History of Parkersburg, WV
As a well-known historic area, the MOV features a colorful and fascinating heritage that has been magnificently preserved and presented by our museums and historic sites. Adventure awaits!

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So Much to Do!

EXPLORE THE HISTORY

  • Blennerhassett Island
  • The Blennerhassett Hotel
  • Henderson Hall
  • Oil & Gas Museum
  • Julia-Ann Historic District
  • Campus Martius Museum
  • The Castle
  • Fort Boreman
  • The Lafayette Hotel
  • Ohio River Museum

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

  • Downtown Throwdown and Brewfest
  • Ohio River Sternwheel Festival
  • Mid-Ohio Valley Cultural Festival
  • Parkersburg Homecoming
  • Taste of Parkersburg
  • West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition
  • Belpre Homecoming
  • Washington County Fair
  • Blennerhassett Hotel Festival of Trees
  • First Fridays Marietta Main Street

ART & ENTERTAINMENT

  • Valley Gem and Riviera
  • People’s Bank Theatre
  • Smoot Theatre
  • West Virginia Symphony Orchestra – Parkersburg
  • Actors Guild of Parkersburg
  • Parkersburg Art Center
  • The Adelphia Music Hall
  • Hidden Marietta
  • Marietta College Athletics
  • Trolley Tours

GRAB A FEW BITES TO EAT

  • North End Tavern
  • Chams Lebanese Restaurant
  • Colombo’s Italian Restaurant
  • Fusion Japanese Steakhouse
  • Marietta Brewing Company
  • JR’s Donut Castle
  • Stoked Coffee
  • Philippines Best Food, LLC
  • River Town Prime Steakhouse & Grill
  • The House of Wines

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & RECREATION

  • North Bend State Park
  • Mountwood Park
  • Marietta Trail Network
  • The Ohio River
  • The Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
  • The WVU Health and Wellness Center
  • Elite Sports Center
  • Marietta Country Club
  • Parkersburg Country Club
  • Oxbow Golf Course