Lewis

Formed December 18, 1816 (18^th county)

Lewis County (17,028), Weston (3,948)

The pleasant Classical Revival structure was constructed in 1887.  The courthouse is on Court Street at Main Street.  United States Highway 19 passes two blocks to the west of the site.  W. J. Kitson is the architect of this tan brick courthouse.  The building was enlarged in 1979.  A Judicial Annex has been added.  The courthouse features a tower.  Lewis County was created on December 18, 1816 from Harrison County as the 18^th county with Weston as the only county seat.  The county is named for American Revolutionary Colonel Charles Lewis.  The county seat was presumably named as a geographical term. 

Lewis County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Two Circuit Court Judges serve Lewis and Upshur counties and One Family Court Judge and Two Magistrate Court Judges serve Lewis, Braxton, and Upshur counties.  The county is in the northern part of the state.  Charleston, West Virginia is southwest and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is north of the county.  The county center is 3.6 miles Southwest of Weston.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Harrison, Upshur, Webster, Braxton, Gilmer, and Doddridge counties.  The county resembles a balloon.  Weston is located in the northern third of the county.  Weston is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 23.2% of the county population. 

The area of the county is 389 square miles.  It is 30 out of 55 in the state.  It ranks 34 out of 55 in population in the state.  It has a density of 43.8 persons per square mile making it 30 out of 55 in the state.  Lewis County has 25.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 79 passes northeast to southwest through the county from Harrison County to Braxton County.  United States Highway 19 parallels Interstate Highway 79 from Harrison to Braxton counties.  United States Highways 33/119 cross from Upshur County to Gilmer County, east to west.