Moundsville, WV Home for Rent

Defined by the gothic walls of the now-retired West Virginia Penitentiary, Moundsville has been the backdrop of movies, the subject of songs and a go-to destination for ghost hunters. But outside the imposing former prison, this Ohio River city is a small-town community with a slow pace of life. Like many cities in the region, it has faced struggles as major industries moved out, and large retailers like Walmart replaced mom and pop stores. However, the nearby WVU Reynolds Memorial Hospital is expanding, and the city continues to have mining and energy jobs available. "We've been blessed with raw materials here — we have oil, gas and coal, although the coal industry isn't what it once was," says Chris Reager, executive director of the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce and a lifelong Moundsville resident. "And we are well-positioned on the highway just south of Wheeling, and the cost of living is relatively low here. It's a great place to raise kids." According to Reager, kids tend to graduate and move out of town, creating a gap in the middle-aged demographic and leading to an aging population. The heart of Moundsville is lined with bungalows, workers' cottages and American