WVU Extension Service – Monroe County

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Office Information

WVU Monroe County Extension Service
PO Box 238
Union, WV 24983

Phone: (304) 772-3003
Fax: (304) 772-3184
Office Hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Driving Directions

Monroe County was created from Greenbrier County on July 14, 1799 by an act of the Virginia Legislature and was named in honor of James Monroe, who was serving as Governor of Virginia at the time. The county seat, Union, was settled in 1774 by James Alexander. The town was so named because it was where troops would gather (forming a union) during the French and Indian Wars. During the Civil War, Monroe Countians fought on both sides of the war.

Monroe County is in the southeastern part of the state located southeast of Beckley and about 192 miles southwest of Washington, DC. Its eastern boundary is a part of the West Virginia state border with Virginia. It was formed in 1799 from Greenbrier County. The county is named after James Monroe (1758-1831) the fifth U.S. president who was then the Virginia governor.

It is rural with a present territory of 473.80 square miles (about half being farm acreage) and a population of 13,507. Its county seat and major town is Union (pop. 548) located in the center of the county. Other towns are Alderson (pop. 1,091) and Peterstown (pop. 499). Most of the population of Alderson resides in bordering Greenbrier County with only 161 of its population residing in Monroe County. A portion of the county on the border with Virginia is a part of the Jefferson National Forest.

Major employment is in manufacturing, retail, health care and social assistance, and construction. Most manufacturing employment is in the making of aerospace products and parts. There is some manufacturing employment in the making of wood products. Agriculturally there is some growing of wheat, but major production is in corn, dairying, eggs, forage, horse raising, and livestock.

Find more:
Monroe County Census Data and Demographics from QuickFacts
Monroe County Government
Monroe County Schools
Monroe County Tourism
Wikipedia entry for Monroe County, West Virginia

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. David Miller, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, West Virginia University. West Virginia University is governed by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the WVU Board of Governors. Programs and activities offered by the WVU Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital or family status.