Buckhannon blends a college town atmosphere with scenic views
Buckhannon not only serves as the seat and only incorporated city of Upshur County, but is also defined by being the home of West Virginia Wesleyan College. While the city was established in the early 1800s, the College was founded in 1890 and has served as a key employer and educator ever since. “[The College] has a lot to do with people moving here, such as professors and the college kids… It’s a big part of the community,” says Kimberly McPherson, a real estate salesperson with Coldwell Banker Armstrong Davis Realty, who has over seven years of experience.
The area also complements its university by having a small but active downtown with plenty of boutiques, events and dining. Buyers can also expect to find plenty of single-family homes with scenic views of the Buckhannon River and the nearby mountains. “The city takes pride in its beautification [and] it’s a very nice community” says McPherson.
West Virginia Wesleyan is the linchpin of local education
West Virginia Wesleyan has over 1,000 students and has been increasing its enrollment by 10% since 2022. It nets a C-plus grade from Niche and has over 60 majors, including in the health professions and business management sectors. The College’s sports teams, the Bobcats, are also a source of entertainment and pride, says McPherson.
Public school students can attend Upshur County Schools which earns a C-minus from Niche. Pupils can start at C-plus-graded Tennerton Elementary and continue to Buckhannon-Upshur Middle, also rated C-minus. Buckhannon-Upshur High has a C-minus and offers career classes in business, agriculture and information technology. An open enrollment or virtual schooling option can be pursued, but placement depends on space and administrative review.
A variety of housing styles with some HOA activity
Houses can include Victorians and Colonial Revivals, Craftsman’s, ranch-styles and split-levels. Duplexes and other multifamily units are also present. The median home price is above $203,000, lower than the national and state medians. McPherson notes that some housing developments have HOAs, but fees can be “pretty reasonable,” with most costing around $1,000 a year to help maintain roads.
Properties closer to downtown and the College are typically on gridded streets with larger lots and oak trees. McPherson says manufactured home communities are on the outskirts of town. She also says Buckhannon is attracting not only college students and workers but retirees and families.
Outdoor fun at Buckhannon's green spaces and festivals
City Park features sports courts, a playground and several pavilions. The Elizabeth J. “Binky” Poundstone Riverwalk Park has paved trails along the Buckhannon River, a basketball court and a dog park. Jawbone Park has art installations and picnic areas. It also hosts a farmers’ market and Festival Fridays, which has handmade items from local vendors as well as live music in the summer. Buckhannon also hosts the West Virginia Strawberry Festival every May. The festival is an eight-day celebration filled with live entertainment, parades and carnival games. Lascaux Micro-Theater shows independent cinema, while Upshur Cinema 6 has more mainstream films.
Dining and shopping downtown or along Highway 20
Restaurants are primarily downtown or along Highway 20 and include a mix of chains and local spots. The Whistle Stop Bar and Grill serves burgers, wings and sandwiches. Mama Roma has Italian fare such as pizza and pasta dishes. Stone Tower Brews is a local chain offering craft beer, coffee drinks and tacos.
Downtown has several boutiques, while big box retailers are along Highway 20 or U.S. Highway 119. More shopping options are 28 miles north in Clarksburg.
Rail noise and flooding risks are present
A rail line passes through Buckhannon. Maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency show a risk of flooding, with properties by the river and downtown within the zone of impact. McPhearson says the area experiences all four seasons, with the previous two winters being “mild for West Virginia.”
Bus service from Country Roads Transit, along with highway access
Country Roads Transit provides bus connections throughout Buckhannon, Upshur and Randolph counties. U.S. Highway 48 runs north of downtown and connects to the Interstate 79 entrance, roughly 12 miles west in Weston. North Central West Virginia Airport is 28 miles north.
Buckhannon’s other major employers include a Weyerhaeuser plant and WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, also providing emergency services and family medicine.
