Monkeytown, West Virginia

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Monkeytown, West Virginia is a small hamlet in Pendleton County, near the city of Riverton. This town was never incorporated as a town, but has existed as an area relevant to local people. Located on the western side of North Mountain, the area was inhabited by Native American tribes long before being settled by European immigrants. Those who now live in the area are a mixture of German, Swiss, Irish, Scottish, and English descent. The population is now less than fifty persons.

[edit] History

The town got its name from a local man, Don L. Burns, when he observed that the town was full of children running and playing in the surrounding forests. Listening to them hoop and holler, he made the statement, "This ain't but a damn monkey town". And the name stuck - still appearing on electric and phone bills as late as the 1980s.

[edit] Present day

At one point in the mid 20th century, the town boasted a bus stop, a country store, a post office. Today all of these innovations have disappeared, with most of the civic works occurring in nearby Riverton.

Bibliography: ' The Pendleton Times', Franklin, WV. March 1, 1935, May 10, 1935, February 14, 1941, July 11, 1941, and April 5 & 12, 1946.