TOWNS
The Brooke County Courthouse is located at 632 Main Street, Wellsburg, WV 26070; phone: 304-737-1400.
Beginnings [1]
Brooke County was created in 1797 from part of Ohio County and named in honor of Robert Brooke, governor of Virginia from 1794 to 1796. At that time, it included what is now Brooke and Hancock counties. The 1800 had the county population the population of the county at 4,706.
The first European settlers arrived in what is now Brooke County in about 1772. Among those early residents were inventors. This can be seen from several patent registrations coming from the county between 1780 and 1810 as well as Brooke County Museum displays.
In 1848, the General Assembly of Virginia created Hancock County from a part of Brooke County, thereby reducing Brooke's land area by almost half. However, since the reallocation of county land, the population grew steadily. This growth occurred due to an expanding industrial base.
Today, Brooke County is known for its steel, chemicals, glass, paper, coal, natural gas, oil wells, fruit, sheep, and poultry farms. Its length is about 18 miles and its average width about 9 miles. The region is composed of beautiful and fertile farms, industrial sites, strip malls, and related assets. Many sheep are raised in Brooke County, along with fine blooded cattle and splendid horses.