Northern panhandle of West Virginia

Northern panhandle
Map of counties in the northern panhandle. Red denotes counties physically part of the region, while light red denotes counties considered to belong to the region culturally, but not physically.
Map of counties in the northern panhandle. Red denotes counties physically part of the region, while light red denotes counties considered to belong to the region culturally, but not physically.
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
Largest cityWheeling
Other cities
Population
 (2020 Census)
 • Total
147,425 (All counties)
124,670 (Excluding Tyler and Wetzel Counties)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)

The northern panhandle is one of the two panhandles in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is a culturally and geographically distinct region of the state. It is the state's northernmost extension, bounded by Ohio and the Ohio River on the north and west and the state of Pennsylvania on the east. Its unusual configuration is the result of the Revolutionary-era claims of Virginia's former Yohogania County boundary lying along the Ohio River, conflicting with interpretations of the Colony of Pennsylvania's royal charter. The conflict was settled by compromise in the 1780s.

In 2013, its northernmost two counties were included in the Pittsburgh consolidated area by the U.S. Census.[1]

  1. ^ "OMB Bulletin" (PDF). obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2023.