Live & Work

Simply put, the Mid-Ohio Valley is a great place to live - and work.

The commuting hassles of congested, metropolitan areas don’t exist here. A drive to work, the grocery, or school is usually a few minutes away through light traffic.

The weather is moderate with sunshine, rain, and sometimes snow and ice. But hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, mudslides, parching droughts, and severe winds are not common worries. The mean annual temperature is 53 degrees and average yearly rainfall is 32.7 inches.

Our crime rate is low and housing costs are reasonable.

Neighborhoods are diverse. Architectural styles vary from historical to contemporary with a wide range of prices. Based on 1999 data, the average house cost was $91,170, but nearly l,000 sold below that amount. There are also many spacious and luxurious homes available for more than $300,000.

Real estate taxes are also below national averages. Long and short-term rental properties are moderately priced and range from one-bedroom, unfurnished units for approx-imately $275 per
month to executive homes for $600 and up.

The crime rate in West Virginia is the next-to-lowest in the nation. Wood County’s rate of 31.0 is significantly below the U.S. average of 46.15 crimes per 1,000 residents.

Cultural and recreational opportunities abound with fishing, water sports, car races, festivals, concerts, plays, public parks, golf courses, museums, theaters, and special interest groups. There are ample opportunities for lodging and dining to suit any budget or taste.

Communications are excellent with two daily newspapers, a television station, and ten radio stations, all based in Parkersburg.

Members of more than 65 volunteer organizations dedicate innumerable hours toward improving the quality of life in this Valley. Approximately 75% of our citizens do volunteer work. For example, the Meals on Wheels program of the Salvation Army
took 22,456 hot meals to 1,233 homebound citizens during 1999. It required 1,387 community volunteers to accomplish this one project, which is typical of many others.

Numerous churches, representing a variety of faiths and denominations, offer nurture and opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship. Many work together to provide common charities and programs aimed at improving the community.