Hardy County is located in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. It is bordered by Hampshire and Mineral counties to the north, Pendleton County to the east, Grant County to the south, and Morgan County to the west. The county covers an area of 336 square miles and has a population of 14,025 people according to the 2020 census.
The geography of Hardy County consists mostly of rolling hills that are part of the Appalachian Mountains. There are two main rivers in the county: Lost River and South Fork South Branch Potomac River. The highest point in Hardy County is 4,816 feet above sea level at High Knob on Great North Mountain.
The climate in Hardy County is humid continental with hot summers and cold winters. Summers can reach temperatures into the upper 80s Fahrenheit (30s Celsius) with higher humidity levels due to its close proximity to many bodies of water. Winters can be cold with temperatures often falling into the teens Fahrenheit (-10s Celsius). Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year with snowfall occurring mainly between late November and early March.
Hardy County is home to a diverse population consisting mostly of white Americans (90%) followed by African Americans (7%), Hispanics (1%), Asians (1%), Native Americans (.4%) and other races (.6%). The largest city in Hardy County is Moorefield which has a population of 2,577 people as of 2020 census data. Other notable towns include Baker, Mathias, Wardensville, Lost City and Petersburg.
Economy of Hardy County, West Virginia
Hardy County has a diverse economy that is driven mainly by agriculture and tourism. Agriculture is the county’s largest industry, with more than 1,600 farms producing beef cattle, dairy products, and poultry. The second-largest industry in Hardy County is tourism, with visitors coming from all over the country to enjoy the county’s natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities.
The third-largest industry in Hardy County is manufacturing. The county’s largest employer is Hardy Wood Products, which produces wood flooring and other products for homes and commercial buildings. Other major manufacturing employers include West Virginia Pencil Company and United Brick & Tile Corporation.
The fourth-largest industry in Hardy County is retail trade. There are several large retailers located in Moorefield such as Walmart Supercenter, Home Depot, Lowe’s Home Improvement Store, Food Lion Grocery Store, and Kmart. Additionally, there are numerous smaller retail stores located throughout the county including clothing stores, convenience stores, gas stations, pharmacies, hardware stores and more.
Finally, Hardy County also has a strong service sector that includes healthcare facilities such as Moorefield Memorial Hospital; educational institutions such as Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College; government offices; financial services; transportation services; media outlets; legal services; real estate companies; insurance companies; accounting firms; research centers; computer programming companies; advertising agencies; consulting firms; engineering firms; travel agencies and more.
The economy of Hardy County provides many jobs for its citizens and supports its local businesses while providing essential goods and services to its residents.
Libraries in Hardy County, West Virginia
According to babyinger, Hardy County is home to five public libraries, each with its own unique offerings and services. The libraries are located in Baker, Mathias, Wardensville, Lost City and Petersburg. Each library provides a wide variety of materials and services including books, magazines, DVDs, audiobooks, computer access with internet access, online databases and computer classes. Additionally, the libraries offer a range of programs for adults and children such as storytimes for young children, book clubs for adults and movie nights.
The Baker Library is the largest library in Hardy County. It has over 40,000 volumes in its collection including books on history, literature and science as well as fiction titles for both adults and children. The library also offers a variety of programming such as storytimes for young children; author talks; book clubs; movie nights; game nights; knitting groups; computer classes; writing workshops; business seminars and more.
The Mathias Library also has an extensive collection of books covering all subject areas. In addition to books they also offer other materials such as magazines, newspapers, audio books and DVDs. They have a wide range of programs available including storytimes for young children; adult education classes; author talks; music programs; movie nights; game nights; knitting groups and more.
The Wardensville Library has a smaller collection than the other two but still offers a good selection of materials including books on history, literature and science as well as fiction titles for both adults and children. They also offer programming such as storytimes for young children; adult education classes; author talks; movie nights; game nights; knitting groups; computer classes; writing workshops; business seminars; legal clinics; job search assistance programs; tax preparation help sessions; financial literacy courses; chess clubs; art classes,and more.
The Lost City Library is the smallest library in Hardy County but it still offers many great services such as books on all subjects including fiction titles for both adults and children along with magazines newspapers audio books DVDs computer access with internet access online databases computer classes job search assistance programs tax preparation help sessions financial literacy courses chess clubs art classes music programs writing workshops business seminars legal clinics author talks storytelling events movie nights game nights knitting groups.
Finally, The Petersburg Library offers an extensive collection of materials which includes books on history literature science along with fiction titles for both adults & children They have many great programs available like storytimes for young kids adult education classes author talks music programs movie nights game nights knitting groups computer classes writing workshops business seminars legal clinics job search assistance tax preparation help sessions financial literacy courses chess clubs art classes & more. All these libraries provide excellent resources to residents of Hardy County West Virginia.
Landmarks in Hardy County, West Virginia
According to directoryaah, Hardy County, West Virginia is home to many unique and beautiful landmarks. The county is located in the Appalachian Mountains and is known for its rolling hills, lush forests, and picturesque views. From historical sites to outdoor activities, there is something for everyone in Hardy County.
One of the most popular landmarks in Hardy County is the Lost World Caverns. This natural wonder was discovered in 1942 and features underground chambers filled with breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors can explore the caverns on a guided tour or take a virtual tour online.
The Wardensville Historic District is another popular landmark in Hardy County. This district includes over 30 historic buildings that were built between 1840 and 1900. Visitors can stroll through this area to admire the architecture or attend one of the many events held here each year including art shows, craft fairs, music festivals, and more.
The Trough Mountain Overlook is another must-see landmark in Hardy County. This scenic overlook offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys from its perch atop Trough Mountain. Visitors can also enjoy picnicking at this location or take a short hike along one of the trails nearby.
For those interested in history, one cannot miss visiting Capon Bridge Battlefield Park & Museum located just outside Wardensville. This park commemorates an important Civil War battle that took place here in 1861 and features a museum with artifacts from both sides of the conflict as well as monuments dedicated to fallen soldiers from both sides of the battle line.
For outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure, there are plenty of trails to explore throughout Hardy County including sections of The Allegheny Trail which runs through Lost City State Park along with other parks such as Wolf Gap Recreation Area & Campground which offers camping & fishing opportunities as well as hiking trails that wind through dense forests & meadows full of wildflowers & wildlife viewing opportunities. There are also several caves located throughout this region including Shenandoah Caverns which offer guided tours & educational programs for visitors to learn more about these underground wonders.
Finally, no visit to Hardy County would be complete without exploring some of its unique shops & restaurants. In addition to local stores selling handmade items such as pottery, woodwork, jewelry, quilts, etc., visitors can enjoy delicious meals at eateries like The Country Café, Gettler’s Restaurant, or The Red Rooster Inn. No matter what type of experience you’re looking for while visiting Hardy County West Virginia, there are sure to be plenty of options available.