Ritchie

Formed February 18, 1843 (31^st county)

Ritchie County (8,450), Harrisville (1,627)                

The Neo-Classical courthouse was completed in 1922.  There was also an 1874 version previously.  It is situated at Main and Court streets.  West Virginia State Highway 16 is one block south of the site.  Holmboe and Pogue provided the stone designs.  It features a tower and columns.  Veteran memorials and a gazebo are on the grounds.  A Justice Center is being added in 2024.  The county was organized on February 18, 1843 from parts of Harrison, Lewis, and Wood counties as the 31^st county.  Harrisville has always been the county seat.  Ritchie County is named for publisher Thomas Ritchie.  The county seat was named for settler, John Harris.  Ritchie County is the birthplace of 1 West Virginia Governor, John J. Cornwell. 

Ritchie County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge serves Ritchie, Doddridge, and Pleasants counties and One Family Court Judge and Two Magistrate Court Judges serve Ritchie, Calhoun, Gilmer, and Roane counties.  The county is located in the northwest part of West Virginia.  Charleston, West Virginia is south and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is northeast of the county.  The county center is 1.4 miles South of Harrisville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Pleasants, Tyler, Doddridge, Gilmer, Calhoun, Wirt, and Wood counties. 

The area of the county is 454 square miles.  It is 23 out of 55 in the state.  It ranks 44 out of 55 in population in the state.  It has a density of 18.6 persons per square mile making it 51 out of 55 in the state.  Ritchie County has 39.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 50 crosses through the county from east to west from Doddridge County to Wood County.  The county resembles a watering can.  Harrisville is located near the center of the county.  Harrisville is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 19.3% of the county population.