Cabell County
Cabell County Courthouse Image Provided by D. Thomas Gallery
Cabell County was organized in 1809 and named for William H. Cabell, the Governor of Virginia from 1805 to 1808. The county seat of Cabell County is Huntington which is also partially in the adjacent Wayne County. The city is the home of Marshall University as well as the Huntington Museum of Art; the Big Sandy Superstore Arena; the Collis P. Huntington Historical Society and Railroad Museum; Camden Park, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks; and the Port of Huntington Tri-State, the largest river port in the United States.
Huntington’s central business district is directly between the Ohio River and the CSX Railroad track, east of the Robert C. Byrd Bridge, and west of Hal Greer Blvd (16th Street). There are also 2 smaller business districts: “Old Central City,” well known for its antique shops, and one in Guyandotte. The city also has a wealth of architecture, including Gothic, Art Deco, and Edwardian Renaissance, along with many Craftsman, Colonial, Classical, and Tudor Revival homes.
Shortly after Pullman Square was constructed, the city began upgrading the streetscape on 9th Street and the “Old Main Corridor” section of 4th Avenue. 9th Street was formerly known as the Ninth Street Plaza and was closed to vehicle traffic for years, which effectively killed most businesses there. Once anchored by Pullman Square on the north end, the old plaza was removed in 2006 and 9th Street has once again begun attracting businesses. The section of Fourth Avenue that connects downtown to Marshall University, known as the “Old Main Corridor,” has also been upgraded recently. The corridor is being upgraded yearly with new lighting, artistic and pedestrian-friendly design concepts, and bicycle lanes.
Camden Park is a twenty-six acre amusement park located near Huntington. Established in 1902 as a picnic spot by the Camden Interstate Railway Company, where riders traveling between Huntington and nearby cities would stop to change lines, the park soon gained a carousel and other roadside attractions. Camden Park is West Virginia’s only amusement park. The park is home to more than thirty rides and attractions, including a full-size traditional wooden roller coaster, the Big Dipper, and several other vintage rides.
Over the years, Camden Park has featured a swimming pool, a roller rink, and even a small zoo. Today, the park hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including live musical performances as part of the “Hot Summer Nights” concert series. Other events include the “Children’s Festival,” “Coca-Cola Days,” and the “Halloween Spooktacular.” The park is typically open six days a week from late May to early August, with a more limited schedule in late August, and select dates in September and October.
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