Marlinton's town development history

 

Marlinton's town development history is tied to the arrival of the railroad and the establishment of the town as the county seat.

• Early Settlement: The area where Marlinton is located was first settled by Stephen Sewell and Jacob Marlin during the winter of 1750-51. The area was known as Marlin's Bottom until 1887.
• Town Development: In December 1890, Colonel John T. McGraw purchased the farms known as Marlin's Bottom to establish a town site. He laid off the land into town lots and advertised it widely as a place where a town would be built.
• Pocahontas Development Company: The Pocahontas Development Company was chartered to promote the town's growth. This company offered $5,000 towards a new courthouse if the county seat was moved from Huntersville to Marlinton.
• County Seat: In 1891, a special election authorized the change of the county seat to Marlinton.
• Railroad Construction: The construction of the Greenbrier Division of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway began in June 1899 and was completed in 1905, with the first operation of trains over the branch in Pocahontas County in December 1900.
• Impact of the Railroad: The completion of the railroad spurred the town's growth. The railroad was a key factor in the prosperity of Pocahontas County. From 1900 to 1910, Pocahontas County had a population increase of 72%, largely due to the construction of the railroad.
• Town Charter: The town was chartered in 1900 under Chapter 17 of the Code of 1899, with elections to be held annually in January.
• Early Population: In 1891, Marlinton had a population of about one hundred people. By 1900, the population grew to 171; in 1910 it was 1,045, and in 1920 it was 1,117.
• Infrastructure and Businesses:
  • Marlinton had a well-equipped graded school, the Edray District High School, two large churches, and three banks: The Bank of Marlinton, The First National Bank, and The Farmers and Merchants Bank.
  • The town had two weekly newspapers: The Pocahontas Times, established in 1881, and The Marlinton Journal, established in 1918.
  • The Greenbrier Tannery of the Union Tanning Company and S. B. Wallace & Co., Wholesale Druggists, were also located there, along with several lumber companies.
• Location: Marlinton is located on the flood plain at the junction of Knapp Creek and Greenbrier River. It is in the south-central part of the county, with an elevation of 2,123 feet above sea-level.

The sources also indicate that the town's growth and importance were linked to its position as a transportation hub and as a center for industries such as lumber and tanning. The town is situated on a joint flood-plain of Greenbrier River and Knapp Creek. The surrounding area also had an impact, with agriculture, timber, and mineral resources contributing to the region's economy. (AI)