WHEELING, a city of West Virginia, U.S.A. Pop. 56,208 in 1920, 87% native white; and 61,659 in 1930 by the Federal census. The city's area of 11.8 sq.m. comprises a narrow strip of bottomland (64o ft. above sea-level), hills rising behind it on the east and an island over a mile long. Bridges connect with Bellaire, Bridgeport and Martins Ferry, Ohio. In addition to several parks and 20 playgrounds within its limits, the city has a country recreation centre of 75o ac., bequeathed by E. W. Ogle bay. There is a municipal market, combined with a large audi torium. The city operates under a council-manager.
Wheeling is surrounded by vast coal-fields, and is plentifully supplied with natural gas and steam-generated electric power. It has over 200 diversified manufacturing plants, with an output in 1927 of $62,383,622 including iron, steel, tin plate, proprietary medicines, hand-rolled stogies, china and porcelain, nails, glass and paper. Bank debits in 1926 aggregated $567,631,000. The assessed valuation for 1927 was $121,540,963.
Wheeling was founded in 1769 by Col. Ebenezer Zane (1747— 1811) of Virginia, and two brothers. In 1774 a strong stockade
was built at the top of Main street hill, and named Ft. Fincastle in honour of the then governor of Virginia, but after 1776 called Ft. Henry, after Patrick Henry. Attacks from hostile Indians were frequent. During one of them (Sept. 1, 1777) when the ammu nition in the fort failed, Elizabeth Zane, an 18 year old sister of the founder, faced the fire of the enemy to bring a keg of powder from a cabin 6o yd. away. In Sept. 1782, the fort was success fully defended by 42 inhabitants against a detachment of British soldiers and 25o Indians. The town was laid out by Col. Zane in 1793, incorporated in 1806 and chartered as a city in 1836. The national road was completed to this point in 1818, and for some years Wheeling was its western terminus as later it was for some years of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Wheeling was the headquarters of the opposed to secession, was the capital of the new State until 1869 and again from 1875 to 1885. The old capitol is now the city hall.