Wheeling

River port in northwest West Virginia, USA, on the Ohio River, 69 km/43mi southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; population (2000) 31,400. Coal has been mined since the late 18th century, and iron and steel manufactured since 1832. Other products include natural gas, textiles, glass, pottery, paper, and chemicals. Settled in 1769, Wheeling grew with the overspill of heavy industry from the Pittsburgh region, and as a distribution centre. It was the state capital 1863–70, and 1875–85. Fort Henry, site of the last battle of the American Revolution in 1782, is here.

The Wheeling Conventions of 1861 and 1862 resulted in the formation of West Virginia.

Wheeling lies on the west side of a narrow finger of state territory, which extends northwards between the borders of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The main railway takes a short cut overland from Wheeling to Pittsburgh, avoiding a southward turn of the Ohio; the line arrived in 1852.