Mountain, West Virginia
| Mountain, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated community | |
  Mountain, West Virginia | |
| Coordinates: 39°21′43″N 80°54′37″W / 39.36194°N 80.91028°WCoordinates: 39°21′43″N 80°54′37″W / 39.36194°N 80.91028°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Ritchie |
| Elevation | 860 ft (260 m) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1543852[1] |
Mountain is an unincorporated community in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. Mountain is located in extreme northeastern Ritchie County along West Virginia Route 74 and the Hughes River, 6.2 miles (10.0 km) north-northeast of Pennsboro.[2] The community was known as Mole Hill prior to 1949, when residents requested that the name be changed to Mountain.[1] The post office ultimately closed on November 9, 2002.[3]
The original name was Federal Hill where a post office was established in 1817. The name was changed to Mole Hill in 1938. Then in 1949 the name changed again to Mountain, WV due to a New York advertising agency which was handling the Borden Companies weekly radio broadcast called "County Fair". They spotted Mole Hill on a map & decided making a "Mountain out of a Mole Hill" would make a good radio show. Reps of the agency came to the small community & got people excited about the recognition they would get. Locals thought Borden would put a plant at Mole Hill & the gravel road would be paved but that didn't happen.
Borden`s efforts resulted in a July 4th celebration which gained national recognition. Two photographers from LIFE magazine snapped pictures of the Pennsboro High School band, dancers & dignitaries. The WV governor "Okey Patterson" proclaimed the name change standing on a hay wagon in front of the post office. One writer wrote that a mole hill is a symbol of something puny, limited, & unimportant; the name mountain becomes a fitting tribute to the progressive folks who deserve their place in the sun.
References
- 1 2 "Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- ↑ Ritchie County, West Virginia General Highway Map (PDF) (Map). West Virginia Department of Transportation. 2011. p. 1. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- ↑ "Postmaster Finder - Post Offices by ZIP Code". United States Postal Service. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
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