![]() Buildings on Wheeling Island as viewed across the east channel of the Ohio River from downtown Wheeling in 2006. The hills in the background are in Belmont County, Ohio. | |
Geography | |
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Location | Ohio River |
Coordinates | 40°04′14″N 80°43′59″W / 40.07056°N 80.73306°W |
Administration | |
United States | |
West Virginia | |
Ohio County | |
Demographics | |
Population | 3,142 (2000) |
Additional information | |
Time zone |
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Wheeling Island is the most populated island in the Ohio River.[1] It lies within the city of Wheeling in Ohio County, West Virginia, in the United States. The 2000 census showed a resident population of 3,142 people on the island, which has a land area of 1.514 square kilometres (374 acres).[2] Neville Island, Pennsylvania, is larger (3.4 square kilometres (840 acres)) but has fewer people (1,232).
Wheeling Island lies at the mouths of Wheeling Creek of Ohio and Wheeling Creek of West Virginia. The island is home to the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack at Wheeling Downs and Wheeling Island Stadium, home of the West Virginia State Football Championships.
Wheeling Island has a number of historic homes featuring Victorian Architecture. An elementary school (Madison Elementary, by Prominent WV Architect F.F. Faris, also Wheeling Island is the location of his personal residence), churches, a public pool (Bridge Park Pool), and several restaurants are located on the island.
A section of Wheeling Island is protected as part of the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge.[3]