Huntington

Understand

Built in the Ohio River Valley and surrounded by lush steep hills, West Virginia's second-largest city (and at one time its largest), Huntington, is historically a town of railroads and industry, and to this day its port on the Ohio River is one of the busiest inland ports in the country. Home to Marshall University, the second-largest in the state of West Virginia, Huntington has a distinctive college-town atmosphere, and its tree-lined streets are lined with stately old homes with large, wide front porches. Although in a hilly region, and containing many hilly portions, the center of Huntington and many of its neighborhoods are built on the wide floodplain of the Ohio River, making parts of Huntington uniquely flat for a city in West Virginia. Steamboat captains nicknamed Huntington the "Jewel City" for the bright lights of the city shining at night along the river, as it was and is the largest city on the river between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Huntington is a planned city; the oldest and flattest parts of the city are built on a planned numbered grid platted on the flat Ohio River floodplain. In 1775, French settlers had established a settlement at the confluence of the Guyandotte and Ohio Rivers, growing into the town of Guyandotte, which remained a small town of regional importance until the incorporation and platting of the City of Huntington on the opposite side of the Guyandotte River in 1871. Guyandotte was incorporated into Huntington's city limits 2 decades later. The city grew quickly its first few decades as a river port at the terminus of the C&O Railroad and many of the city's cultural and architectural assets come from the regional prosperity of the gilded age and the influence of the city beautiful movement, notably an impressive park system for a city of its size which includes a chain of parks along the Washington Blvd/North Blvd. greenway corridor.

The main campus of Marshall University is located centrally within the city core, directly east of the Central Business District. The campus occupies roughly 20 square blocks, the majority of the academic and residential facilities are within a 10-square block pedestrianized academic and residential quadrangle complex. Marshall University is an integral part of Huntington's culture, identity, and economy. It's NCAA D1 teams attract large crowds, and the university actively engages in community outreach across a broad range of programs, events and collaborations. The presence of the university, particularly its location adjacent to the CBD, breathes life into Huntington's music and art scenes, and a youthful atmosphere to the city at large. Huntington's smaller twin-city of Ashland, Kentucky is 20 minutes drive west, downriver. The Huntington-Ashland metropolitan area has a combined population of 360,000 in 2020. I-64 skirts around the Huntington city center through more suburban areas to the south, a routing which prevented Huntington's historic center from seeing the large-scale destruction typically associated with inner-city highway construction. West Virginia's capital city, Charleston, is less than an hour east on I-64, and the suburbs of both cities have been growing towards each other for many decades, resulting in a near-continuous metropolitan area between the two cities. With a combined population of around 620,000 (2020); the Huntington-Charleston combined metropolitan area is the largest urban area for several hours in every direction. Generally off the tourist radar, prices for lodging and restaurants in Huntington are generally more affordable than larger and more tourist-oriented cities and towns.

Within a 2-hour radius of Huntington are many outdoor scenic recreational attractions including: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Ohio's famous Hocking Hills State Park, and Kentucky's Carter Caves and Red River Gorge as well as several man-made lakes.

In 2008, Huntington earned the dubious distinction of being named the "fattest and most unhealthy" city in the United States, based on 2006 data showing that 46% of adults were obese. Over the following decade, Huntington's obesity rate fell by 13 percentage points to 33%. It is no longer the fattest city in America, or even in West Virginia. Men and women working in manual jobs that predominated through the 20th century required a lot of caloric energy in their diet. The traditional Appalachian diet of foods that were buttered, salted and fried served that purpose for most of the 20th century. But when those physical jobs were replaced by lower-energy ones by the end of the century, the eating habits stayed the same, resulting in a sharp increase in adult obesity from the 1990s forward. The civic shaming that resulted from the 2008 designation, which included a visit from British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, led to a number of strategies aimed at helping its citizens lose weight. The efforts included a challenge for area residents to collectively "walk to the moon", hospital programs focused on helping children lose weight, and a new local farmers market. The focus on children led to families becoming involved.

Tourist information

• Huntington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is an excellent source for local information. +1-800-635-6329.

Get in

By car

Huntington is just off I-64. Primary exits for downtown are 8 (5th St. Rd.) and 11 (Hal Greer Blvd.). U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 52 also run through town. US-23 serves Ashland, Kentucky, staying to the west of Huntington.

WV-10 arrives from Logan 1.5 hours south, WV-2 arrives from Point Pleasant 45 minutes northeast

By plane

Go Huntington/Tri-State (HTS)

Downtown shuttle service is available to the Pullman Plaza Hotel and the Holiday Inn Hotel.

📍 1449 Airport Rd.☎ +1 304 453-6165

MapsWebsite☆ Want to go

The next closest airport is in Charleston (CRW), about an hour east in I-64. American Airlines has non-stop service from Charlotte. Allegiant Air has non-stop service from Fort Lauderdale, Myrtle Beach, Orlando-Sanford, and St. Petersburg/Clearwater.

The Huntington Tri-State airport (HTS has flights by Allegiant and American Airlines from Florida and Charlotte.

By train

• Route stopping in Huntington:

• Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark. Trains to and from New York City and Chicago arrive and depart on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday.

By bus

• Greyhound has a station at the TTA Transit Center, 1251 4th Ave.
• Tri-River Transit runs from Logan to the Huntington Mall in Barboursville; there, riders can transfer to a TTA bus for a ride to Downtown.

Get around

Despite its reputation as America's unhealthiest city, downtown Huntington is surprisingly walkable; both bus and train stations are downtown, along with two hotels and several services and attractions.

Easy to navigate, central Huntington is laid out on a planned grid, numbered avenues run east-west and increase south of the river, numbered streets run north-south and increase in number east of 1st St. West of 1st St, numbered streets increase in number heading west, and carry a 'W' designation at the end (as in 14th St W), and avenues are names of presidents. The street grid dissolves as one goes into hillier neighborhoods in the south of the city. Huntington is bisected by railroad tracks. To go north-south or south-north, drivers must use underpasses or bridges at: Spring Valley Dr. Vernon, W 14th, 1st, 8th, 10th Sts, Hal Greer Blvd, 20th, 29th, and 31st. Sts. Additionally, U.S. Route 60 splits into two east-to-west one-way streets (3rd and 5th Ave.; and Washington and Adams Ave. in the West End)

Crossing the Ohio River to and from Ohio can be done on three bridges in the city: the East End Bridge off 31st St in Highlawn, the Robert C Byrd Bridge off 6th and 5th Sts and Veterans Memorial Blvd. downtown, and the West End Bridge on US-52 in the West End. There are two additional bridges downriver, one in downtown Ashland and one downstream connecting to Ironton, Ohio. There are no bridges crossing the Ohio River upstream after the East End Bridge for almost an hour's drive until Point Pleasant/Gallipolis.

Despite the walkability of the city core, the surrounding metropolitan area is very spread-out and a car is necessary to reach some destinations, or to travel between suburbs.

By bus

• The Transit Authority, +1 304-529-RIDE. Buses generally run on the hour between 6AM and 6PM, though there is limited service available in the evening. TTA also runs along U.S. Route 60 to Barboursville and Milton.

By taxi or rideshare

• Uber and Lyft: The city is covered by both ridesharing services, letting you avoid Yellow Cab entirely.

By bicycle

Downtown Huntington is reasonably flat and bicycle friendly. Bike lanes exist on 4th Av. between 8th St. and Hal Greer Blvd. and separated bike lanes on Hal Greer Blvd. between 3rd Av. and 8th Av, with a shared bikepath/sidewalk continuing south past the Cabell-Huntington Hospital complex to Washington Blvd. State law requires all riders wear helmets but is rarely enforced by the city or campus police. Make sure to wear a helmet to protect your skull and internal brain organ if you get hit by a car or go too fast and hit a bump though.

On foot

With its several pubs, restaurants, and shops, the downtown area between Marshall University and the Civic Arena/Riverfront is ideal for walking. A walking tour map is available from the Cabell-Huntington CVB and Herald-Dispatch.

Neighborhoods

• Downtown: Roughly between 1st St and 20th St. and from the river to the north to the train tracks behind 7th Av. to the south. Contains Huntington's central business district, Marshall University's main campus between Hal Greer Blvd and 20th St, and several residential pockets of apartments and dense detached homes west of 7th St, and east of the CBD towards and around the university campus.
• Southside: South of the train tracks and 8th Av, from 14th St. W to the east end of Ritter Park. The quintessential Huntington neighborhood and one of its wealthiest; includes Ritter Park and Memorial Park. A mix including old-and-new money wealth, college professors, junior/senior undergrads and grad students, and young professionals and their families. includes part of the Ritter Park Historic District.
• Enslow Park: From east of Ritter Park to Hal Greer Blvd; tighter streets and newer homes than Southside.
• Fairfield: Historically a middle-and working-class African American neighborhood, today has a mix of housing styles and demographics. Cabell-Huntington Hospital is on Hal Greer Blvd.
• Walnut Hills: Modest homes on steeper streets in the hills east of Fairfield and north of Norway Av. and Washington Blvd. Accessible from US-60 is the popular hilltop Rotary Park.
• Highlawn: East of the main Marshall University campus, contains St. Mary's hospital, former industrial areas, a mix of wealthier residences along the river and more modest blocks near 5th Av. The small McClelland Park along Riverview Av. has a playground and basketball courts
• West End: Contains the 14th St W business district. Generally modest homes built for factory workers, some blocks on and directly adjacent to US-60 between US-52 and downtown have many properties in a relatively poor state of repair.
• Southeast Hills: A large neighborhood area consisting of a collection of generally wealthier neighborhoods southeast of the city center and east of Hal Greer Blvd, including neighborhoods along eastern Washington Blvd and Norway Av. stretching east along US-60 to the eastern city limits. Smaller residential neighborhoods contained within include Stamford Park, Chancellor Hills, Gallaher Village, Arlington Park.
• Guyandotte: Pre-dates Huntington proper, containing the oldest buildings in Huntington, east of the Guyandotte River from the Highlawn neighborhood. The historic neighborhood commercial district along Bridge St. is unfortunately lacking in vibrance. There is a marina at the point where the Guyandotte River flows into the Ohio River accessible through a gate in the floodwall at Buffington St.
• Altizer: Tidy, working class neighborhood southeast of Guyandotte and across US-60 and the Guyandotte River from Southeast Hills and Walnut Hills.
• South Hills: South of Southside on very steep and narrow streets, very wealthy; impressive residences, some with jaw-dropping views over the city center. Contains the Huntington Museum of Art and part of the Ritter Park Historic District.
• Park Hills: A prestigious residential area with homes mostly from the mid-20th century on the hilltops south of the Ritter Park Historic District.
• Harveytown: A small neighborhood of modest, tidy homes tucked in a valley; older than most portions of South Hills. Contains the small Harveytown Park and the Museum of Radio and Technology.
• Westmoreland: modest suburban-style neighborhood west of the West End, east of the suburb of Ceredo. The only portion of the city proper in Wayne County instead of Cabell County; contains the historic Camden Park Amusement Park.

Suburbs

• Barboursville: East of the city of Huntington along I-64 and US-60, Home to the Huntington Mall, many big box and chain stores, a small historic downtown along the Guyandotte River, and the large and much-loved Barboursville Park. Generally considered Huntington's wealthiest suburb.
• Pea Ridge: Unincorporated, wealthier suburban area between the eastern city limits of Huntington and Barboursville, along US-60 and Pea Ridge Rd.
• Milton: East of Barboursville along I-64 and US-60, a small bedroom community with a small historic downtown, home of Blenko Glass, the Milton Flea Market and WV Pumpkin Park. Hometown of famous writer Breece D'J Pancake.
• Kenova: Predating Huntington itself, sits to the west of Huntington city limits at the tri point where West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky meet, visible from Virginia Point Park. The smaller suburb of Ceredo is adjacent to the east.
• Lavalette: A wealthier, spaced-out suburb south of the city limits along 5th St, which becomes WV-152. Home to 2 golf courses, and the popular Beech Fork Lake, the dam, marina and recreation area is accessible off WV-152.
• Spring Valley/Buffalo Creek: Generally newer residential suburbs south of the Westmoreland neighborhood and west of Lavalette. Contains the VA Hospital complex.
• Wayne: Small town south of Lavalette along WV-152, the small historic downtown and Wayne County Courthouse sit on top of a small steep hill, around which Twelvepole Creek flows. The last outpost of civilization before very rural southern Wayne County, where East Lynn Lake and Cabwaylingo State Forest are located.
• Lesage: spread-out suburb along WV-2 northeast of Huntington, accessible to Barboursville via Big Ben Bowen Hwy (WV-193)
• Lawrence County, Ohio: A large, mostly suburban and rural county across the Ohio River from Huntington and Ashland. Contains towards its western edge the small, historic city of Ironton, today more of a bedroom community for especially Ashland. Also the locally popular Lake Vesuvius, a unit of Wayne National Forest, can be accessed via a short drive north of Ironton, about 35-40 minutes from central Huntington. Suburbs of Huntington include along the river from east to west: Rome and Proctorville sit directly across the East End Bridge from Huntington's east end, Chesapeake is directly across the bridge from downtown Huntington, Burlington is an unincorporated area with big-box shopping, riverfront houses and South Point addresses across the West End Bridge (US-52) from Huntington's west end, adjacent South Point is a suburb halfway between downtown Huntington and Ashland, Ky. along US-52.
• Ashland, Kentucky: Huntington's smaller sister city, less than half its size. Most parts of central Ashland are about 20-30 minutes from central Huntington. A historic downtown with a small riverfront park and a nicely maintained Central Park, contains Ashland Town Center: the smaller of the Huntington Area's 2 indoor malls. Beyond the immediate downtown neighborhoods a generally suburban feel. 29th St. features a small but thriving neighborhood business district. The Kentucky portion of the greater Huntington metropolitan area contains about 1/3 its total population.
• Catlettsburg, Ky: A small suburb directly across the Big Sandy River from Kenova, WV. Contains a small historic downtown area.
• Russell, Ky. northwest of downtown Ashland. A small historic district on the banks of the Ohio River, much suburban sprawl.
• Flatwoods, Ky; Raceland, Ky; Worthington, Ky; Wurtland, Ky; Canonsburg, Ky: Mostly residential suburban sprawl northwest and west of downtown Ashland.
• Greenup, Ky: A small historic town on the Ohio River at the far northwest edge of the Huntington area, the county seat of suburban Greenup County.

Further afield

• Hamlin: A very small rural farming town along the Mud River 45 minutes from Huntington, county seat of Lincoln County, hometown of Chuck Yeager.
• Louisa, Ky: A small town where the Louisa Fork and Tug Fork meet to form the Big Sandy River, on the border West Virginia. Near Yatesville Lake
• Grayson, Ky: A small town along I-64 west of Huntington and Ashland, notable for being where direct traffic to Cincinnati can access the beginning of the AA Highway.
• Olive Hill, Ky: A small town along I -64 west of Grayson, Ky. The closest town to Carter Caves.

Learn

Stay safe

While generally safe for visitors and residents, Huntington has a moderate crime level, so general street smarts are advised. Dance club shootings have occurred from time to time in the past, so avoid confrontations in those places. That said, the city government has made efforts to close disreputable drinking establishments where these events have repeatedly occurred, making gun violence noticeably less common than in years past. It is best advised to walk at night with a group, especially if unfamiliar with the surroundings.

A regional drug epidemic was supercharged by the nationwide opioid epidemic, so it is not unheard of to see exposed needles on the ground in the most affected neighborhoods. Tread carefully and watch your footsteps, as you don't know what pathogens could be transferred from the needles; care should be taken for pets to do the same.

Many homeless people can be found in Huntington and will often beg or panhandle. A common scam is a man asking for money for gas, with his family stuck at the station or down the road. Simply say no; even if they're persistent, they'll eventually leave you alone. Incidents of homeless people becoming aggressive or robbing people are rare.

Go next

• Charleston, the capital of West Virginia, is less than an hour east on I-64
• Point Pleasant, 45 minutes north on State Route 2, is home to an excellent River Museum, the WV State Farm Museum, the Mothman Museum, and hosts the annual Mothman Festival.
• New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is two hours away to the east, World-class white water rafting, zip lining, and rock climbing. New River Gorge .
• Carter Cavesis about 45 minutes west along I-64 just outside the small town of Olive Hill, Ky. Here spelunkers can explore the extensive cave systems.
• Hatfield and McCoy Trail System Over 500 miles of trails comprise the east's highest-rated ATV trail system, throughout several counties in southern West Virginia.
• Morehead, Ky is 1 hour west on I-64; home to Morehead State University and nearby Cave Run Lake.
• Logan is a historic coal mining town 1.5 hours south on WV-10. A state park, historic downtown and ATV trail access.
• Williamson is a historic coal mining town 1.5 hours south on US-52. A historic downtown featuring the 'Coal House'; hiking trails to rock formations and ATV trail access.
• Lexington and Kentucky's bluegrass region is 2 hours west on I-64.
• Red River Gorge Geological Area of Daniel Boone National Forest and Natural Bridge State Park are about 2 hours southwest in a sparsely populated rugged region of eastern Kentucky, near the tiny towns of Campton and Stanton.
• Athens and the Hocking Hills are about 2 hours north.
• Columbus is the closest large metro area to Huntington with over 1 million in population. 2.5 hours north on US-23.
• Cincinnati is almost as close as Columbus, 2.5 hours west on KY-AA.