Located in the north-central part of the state upon the Appalachian Plateau, the land is hilly to mountainous. The area was first settled around 1780 and is named for Phillip Pendleton Barbour.

Barbour County is predominantly an agricultural and grazing county with most farms located along the river valleys. Other jobs in the county come from the coal, lumber, gas and oil resources in the county.

Philippi is the county seat of Barbour County. In 2000 it had a population of 15,557. Alderson-Broaddus College is located in Philippi.

Source: The 55 West Viriginias: A guilde to the State's Counties, by E. Lee North, Published by The West Viriginia University Press.

Population: 15,557
Land in square miles: 89
Number of people per square mile: 45.7
More facts from the 2000 Census