HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY
Boone County was formed in 1847 from Kanawha, Cabell, and Logan Counties, Virginia.
The county was named for Daniel Boone, a noted hunter and explorer, who made his home
in the Great Kanawha Valley from 1788 to 1795. |
 |
Although Boone County was named for the great American frontiersman, it was another explorer,
John Peter Salley, who had a more significant impact on what was to become Boone County.
In 1742, while on an exploring trip, Salley and companions discovered coal near the present
day community of Peytona. The discovery of coal has played a vital role in fueling the steel
mills and power plants of the United States, and remains the backbone of Boone County's economy.
In pioneer days, a small log courthouse was constructed when the county seat was known as
Ballardsville. That name source was St. Clair Ballard, a Virginia legislator. It was through
his efforts that the county was named for Daniel Boone. Boone had rescued Ballard's mother
from the Indians and reared her as his own child. Ballardsville was torched by Union soldiers
during the Civil War but citizens rebuilt it near the old site. In 1865, a courthouse was
constructed from brick. That structure was condemned in 1913, and the foundation of the
present courthouse was begun a year later. The present courthouse, constructed of Indiana
limestone, was completed in 1921. The exterior is very impressive and the edifice is on
the National Register of Historic Places.
On June 20, 1863, when a new state was born out of the Civil War, Boone County Virginia, became
Boone County, West Virginia.
In 1906, Madison was incorporated as the county seat. Madison derived its name from Colonel
William Madison Peyton, who led the movement for the formation of Boone County. Peyton was
instrumental in developing the Coal River Valley. There are three other municipalities in
Boone County--Danville, Whitesville, and Sylvester.
|
|
Home
|
