Mercer County
From West Virginia (WV) Cyclopedia
Established in 1837 from parts of Giles and Tazewell Counties (Virginia), and named in honor of General Hugh Mercer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Mercer), of Revolutionary War fame. Mercer County has traditionally been agricultural, though coal mines were operated in the western county and much of the eastern county lies within state park, national parkland and wildlife-management areas.
County Seat: Princeton, WV
Population: 62,980 (2000 Census (http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US54081&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US54%7C05000US54081&_street=&_county=mercer&_cityTown=&_state=04000US54&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on))
Mercer County Profile (http://www.wvbep.org/bep/lmi/CNTYPROF/CP99merc.HTM)
Lodging: Mercer County Hotels (http://www.reservetravel.com/v4/redir.aspx?type=geo&rad=15&lbl=Mercer%20County&lat=37.347449&lon=-81.155239&siteid=7790)
Schools: Mercer County Schools (http://boe.merc.k12.wv.us/)
Institutes, Colleges and Universities: Bluefield State College (map (http://www.wvamaps.com/maps/index.php?place=Bluefield%20State%20College&state=WV&lon=-81.2408&lat=37.2647&pop=0&county=Mercer&elev=0&scale=3)) : Concord University (map (http://www.wvamaps.com/maps/index.php?place=Concord%20University&state=WV&lon=-81.0083&lat=37.4236&pop=0&county=Mercer&elev=0&scale=3))
Libraries: Craft Memorial
Library (http://craftmemorial.lib.wv.us/)
Cities and Towns
Athens, WV
Bluefield, WV
Matoaka, WV
Oakvale, WV
Princeton, WV
State Parks
Camp Creek State Park
Pinnacle Rock State Park
Formation of Mercer County
In 1837, Mercer County was formed in response to a petition of the people living along the Flat Top Mountain, the Bluestone, and the upper waters of Brush Creek, who complained of the inconvenience of the long journey to their old county seat. The first county house was built in 1839. In 1843 there were in the county only two voting places -- Princeton and Pipestem.
Climate
Temperature Mean Annual Average: 52 (Degrees F)
January Averages: High 39 (Degrees F) -- Low 23 (Degrees F)
July Averages: High 78 (Degrees F) -- Low 62 (Degrees F)
Long Term Precipitation
January: 2.51 inches -- July: 4.23 (inches) -- Annual: 38.4 (inches)
Mean Annual Snowfall Range
35 - 45 inches
Mercer County Weather Forecast (http://www.wvwebsites.com/cgi-bin/weather/hamweather.cgi?theme=default&user=default&forecast=zandh&state=wv&zone=042)
