The story
Read it all →How Wellsburg came to be
From Wikipedia’s history of Wellsburg.
The town was laid out in 1790, and its post office was opened on September 1, 1870.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
A+History
History · Wellsburg
Wellsburg dates to 1790, and 61% of its homes were built before 1940
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. What drives it
15 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 703 buildings between them. Below: 13 old photos and papers, maps from 1884 on, and the census since 1870.
1790founded
15on the National Register
61%homes built before 1940
13old photos & papers
6famous people
Quick answers
How Wellsburg began
When was Wellsburg founded?
1790
Wellsburg dates its founding to 1790 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1870.
First census: 1,366 in 18702020 census: 2,450236 years
How historic is Wellsburg?
A+
What drives the grade ↓Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1800.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Wellsburg’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Wellsburg is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its age lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Wellsburg’s overall grade.
Founding era1790, from Wikipedia: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194060.6% of homes (±7.8) · typical WV town 13.0% · U.S. 8.4%A+National Register15 listings, 721 historic buildings, 3,273 per 10,000 residents · typical WV town 29.6 · U.S. 2.4A+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Among the top 1%
NewerOlder
West Virginia towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical West Virginia town has 29.6 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Wellsburg’s 3,273 sits above most of its state (100% of West Virginia towns have fewer) while its 721 historic buildings outnumber those of 98% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikipedia alone; no second source gives 1790.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±7.8 points).
Founding year: Wikipedia (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Wellsburg’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
A historic districtThe Wellsburg Historic District takes in 693 historic buildings.Landmarks on the Register15 places on the National Register.Then and nowOne place photographed years apart. Drag to compare.Mapped building by building7 fire insurance maps, 1884 to 1923, drew every building in Wellsburg.
★ What stands out · On the National Register
15 listings protect 721 historic buildings
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.
places listed
15
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
721
each building in a district counts
first listed
1978
Miller's Tavern
BuildingsDistrictsStructures
Architectural styles listings
Greek Revival6
Federal2
Italianate2
Victorian1
Romanesque1
Beaux-Arts1
Miller's TavernFederal
Wellsburg WharfStructure
Wellsburg Historic DistrictFederal
BeallmoreNeo-Classical Revival
Brooke CemeteryGreek Revival
David and Lucy Tarr Fleming MansionGreek Revival
ElmhurstGreek Revival
Gen. I. H. Duval MansionGreek Revival
All 15 listings
Harry and Louisiana Beall Paull MansionBuilding · listed 1986Lewis Hall MansionBuilding · listed 1986Lucy Tarr MansionBuilding · listed 1986Kirker HouseBuilding · listed 1986VancroftDistrict · listed 1986Danforth Brown HouseBuilding · listed 1992Nicholls House and Woolen Mill SiteBuilding · listed 1997
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Then & now
The same spot, 84 years apart
Drag across each photo to compare.
c. 19302014Timeline
Wellsburg, 1790 to 1934
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
- 18th century
- 1790FoundingWellsburg is established
- 19th century
- 1800Post officeThe Brooke Court House post office opens
- 1800Post officeThe Wellsburg post office opens
- 1821Post officeThe Brooke Court House post office closes
- 1824
Born hereIsaac H. Duval is born here - 1851
Born hereJohn O. Pendleton is born here - 20th century
- 1902
In the archiveChrist (Episcopal) Church rectory, Wellsburg, W.V - 1904
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey - 1923Born hereCharles "Red" Donley is born here
- 1930
In the archiveHigh school, Wellsburg, W. Va (84270) - 1930CensusPopulation peaks at 6,398
- 1934
Born hereGlenn Davis is born here
By decade
Wellsburg, decade by decade
2 decades in the archive, from the 1900s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
1900s7 items
1902
1902
1902
1902
1902
19021930s6 items
c. 1930
c. 1930
c. 1930
c. 1930
c. 19301940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your albumToday29 recent
2023Plaque dedicated to Captain Oliver Brown
2023Capt. Oliver Brown Memorial Brooke Co. Cemetery
2019Destruction of Historic Landmark
2015Beallmore, also known as the William T. Jr., and June…
2015The Wells Log House, built in 1788 by Alexander Wells…
2015Buildings in the 800 block of Main Street
2015The Longhorn Steakhouse in an old building
2015The Brooke County Public Library and West Virginia To…
2015Law and land office building
2015The Wells Log House, built in 1788 by Alexander Wells…
2015The Longhorn Steakhouse in an old building in
2015The Brooke County Public Library and West Virginia To…
2015Law and land office building in
2015Buildings in the 800 block of Main Street in
2014Brooke High School 2014-04-30 19-04
2011Wellsburg Wharf
2011Vancroft in Wellsburg, gates
2011Miller's Tavern in
2011Houses in the Wellsburg Historic District
2011Harry and Louisiana Beall Paull Mansion
2011Gen. I.H. Duval Mansion
2011Elmhurst in
2011David and Lucy Tarr Fleming Mansion approach
2011Brooke Cemetery
2008Wellsburg Wharf 2 (Taber Andrew Bain) - Flickr
2008Wellsburg Wharf (Taber Andrew Bain) - Flickr
2008Wellsburg (Taber Andrew Bain) - Flickr
2008Ohio River at Wellsburg (Taber Andrew Bain) - Flickr
2004WVMap-doton-WellsburgOn the map
Wellsburg on the map, 1904 to 1997
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Wellsburg. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1904Steubenville sheet · 1:62,500U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Wellsburg.
Every building
Wellsburg, building by building, 1884–1923
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
1884Sheet 1 of 2Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
People over time
Wellsburg, census by census
Peaked at 6,398 in 1930; 2,450 people lived here in 2020.
16 censuses, 1870–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Wellsburg’s Wikipedia page.
Famous people
See all →6 famous people were born in Wellsburg
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
C
Charles "Red" DonleyAmerican sports broadcaster · b. 1923R
Rabbit RobinsonMajor League Baseball player · b. 1882J
James D. TorreysonEighth attorney general of Nevada · b. 1854Places that used to be
Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds
Wellsburg’s post office has been open since 1800. Another post office, Brooke Court House, opened and closed inside today’s town.
Brooke Court House
Wellsburg
18001910today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Dutch TownLazearvilleShank Town
Gone or out of use
Central Junior High SchoolschoolCentral SchoolschoolPentecoastal ChurchchurchRiverview SchoolschoolWashington Schoolschool
1cemetery inside Wellsburg
Brooke
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Help out
Finish Wellsburg’s story
Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.
Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.Questions about Wellsburg’s history
What year was Wellsburg founded?
In 1790, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Wellsburg’s post office opened in 1800, and the census of 1870 counted 1,366 people here.
How does Wellsburg rank for history?
Wellsburg is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Wellsburg?
15 listings: 11 buildings, among them the Miller's Tavern (listed 1978, the first), 2 historic districts, the Wellsburg Historic District and the Vancroft, with 703 contributing buildings, and 2 structures. 721 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Wellsburg?
61% of Wellsburg’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.8 points), against a typical 13% for a West Virginia town; the median home was built in 1938.
Memory lane
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Start a conversation
Sources
Where this page comes from
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (36), the Library of Congress (6), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (15), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.