Major infrastructure improvements are creating new growth in Teays Valley
About 20 miles from the West Virginia state capital of Charleston, Teays Valley is among the most developed suburban communities in the Tri-State area that includes parts of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. A recent $5 million infrastructure grant for road improvements and utility hookups is paving the way for even more residential development. For now, the increasing supply of homes attracts buyers looking for top-tier schools, convenient shopping and easy access to recreation. "It is a great area. You get a lot of house for your money, and we have a fantastic school system, so it's great for people with young families," says Lisa Eden, a Teays Valley resident and Realtor with Old Colony Realtors. "We still have new construction going on, and it's just kind of like a little bedroom-style community, but we still have everything we need."
New suburban homes and townhouses amidst established starter homes
The median sales price for a single-family home in Teays Valley is around $360,000, though plenty of newer homes go for much higher. New construction can mostly be found closer to neighboring Hurricane in subdivisions jutting off Teays Valley Road. The area also offers vacant lots for suburban homes as well as empty land on isolated hilltops for homesteads, often selling for $100,000 to $150,000 per acre. "A lot of this was farmland originally, so we have more flat land than you would typically see in the Charleston area," Eden says. Communities of attached townhouses are relatively new for the area. Some were built in the 1980s, but most townhouses are less than 2 years old. In addition to new construction, plenty of cottages, ranch-style houses and split-levels were built in the 1980s and ’90s.
Small classes and championship sports in West Virginia's 2nd-best school district
Teays Valley is zoned for Putnam County Public Schools, which receive an overall A-minus grade from Niche while being ranked the second best district in the state as well as the second best for student athletes. West Virginia offers a flexible transfer program that allows students to switch high schools if they're looking for particular athletic or educational programs. Putnam County students enjoy small class sizes averaging 13 students per teacher, well below the national average.
Short commutes to Nitro, long drives to Nucor and other new employers
Many residents commute to major employers like the Toyota Manufacturing Plant in Buffalo, about 25 minutes away. It takes a little over 30 minutes to drive west to Huntington, where dozens of major employers operate, and industrial jobs are about 15 minutes east in Nitro. Some residents are content to commute more than an hour north on U.S. Highway 35. "They just finished one of the big bridges and some of our highway widening projects," says Realtor Chuck Boggs III. "Over in Mason County, we've got Nucor coming in, and we've got the Timet Plant up in Ravenswood. A lot of those are multibillion-dollar projects, and it's really pushing the growth back this direction." Traffic isn't much of an issue on I-64, but commercial and rush hour traffic on Teays Valley Road leads to frequent slowdowns.
Semi-private golf courses and tennis facilities, plus parks nearby in Hurricane
Sleepy Hollow Golf Course is the premier outdoor facility in Teays Valley. The semi-private club also provides members with tennis, pickleball and a pool. Meanwhile, parks in Hurricane are a short drive west. Many indoor options require membership, like the Dumont Tri-County YMCA, which offers an indoor pool, racquetball courts and a weight room. The Teays Valley Tennis Center has three hard-surface indoor courts for lessons and USTA-sanctioned league matches. Hurricane City Park, one of the most active parks in the area, is home to a skate park, baseball diamonds, playgrounds and a fishing lake, plus trailheads for the Meeks Mountain Trails, a 30-mile network of woodland paths.
Multiple shopping centers offer national brands and regional restaurant chains
South of I-64, locals often shop for groceries at the Kroger in Putnam Village Shopping Center. The commercial hub is also where most restaurants in Teays Valley are located, including national chains, but some regional favorites like Tudor's Biscuit World or Fat Patty's. North of I-64, the Liberty Square Shopping Center houses several big box stores, like Target, Petco and Home Depot. Teays Valley Road is also home to several businesses, though not as many as the nearby shopping centers. Most residents visit Teays Valley Road to shop at Save A Lot, meet friends at the local VFW post or grab a craft beer from the Pallet Bar.
Weekly farmers markets and birdwatching groups
Dozens of public events take place in and around Teays Valley. The Putnam County Public Library hosts meetings for numerous clubs and group activities every week, including birdwatching groups, knitting clubs and chess matches. The library also hosts special events like cooking demonstrations with professional chefs. Outside in the parking lot, the Putnam Farmer's Market happens every week, offering more than 20 local vendors to peruse. The Teays Valley Cinemas also hosts occasional events, like family-friendly meet-and-greets with costumed movie characters. Most major public events, like the annual Main Street Spring Festival, occur nearby in Hurricane.
Slight risk of floods and wildfires
Several small creeks run through Teays Valley, forming flood zones, some of which include residential properties. There is also some risk of wildfires in Putnam County, particularly brush fires. The Putnam County Fire Service Board maintains strict regulations for controlled burns that help mitigate the risk of wildfire.
