Weirton, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Weirton is a city located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
, United States
. Most of the city is in Hancock County
, with the remainder in Brooke County
. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,411 (16,525 in Hancock County, 3,886 in Brooke County). It is a part of the Weirton-Steubenville Metropolitan Statistical area
.
just north of Holliday's Cove. http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11159/1152019-60-2.stm An unincorporated settlement called Weirton grew up around the mill that by 1940 was said to be the largest unincorporated city in the United States. By then Hollidays Cove and two other outlying areas, Weirton Heights and Marland Heights, which as their names suggest were on hilltops or ridges surrounding the "Weir–Cove" area, had also incorporated.
Hollidays Cove Fort was a Revolutionary War fortification constructed in 1774 by soldiers from Ft. Pitt. It was located in what is now downtown Weirton, along Harmons Creek (named for Harmon Greathouse), about three miles from its mouth on the Ohio River. It was commanded by Colonel Andrew Van Swearingen (1741-1793) and later by his son-in-law, Captain Samuel Brady (1756-1795), the famous leader of Brady's Rangers. In 1779, over 28 militia were garrisoned at Hollidays Cove. Two years earlier, Colonel Van Swearingen led a dozen soldiers by longboat down the Ohio to help rescue the inhabitants of Ft. Henry in Wheeling in a siege by the British and Indian tribes in 1777. That mission was memorialized in a WPA-era mural painted on the wall of the Cove Post Office by Charles S. Chapman (1879-1962). The mural features Col. John Bilderback, who later gained infamy as the leader of the massacre of the Moravian Indians in Gnadenhutten in 1782.*
On July 1, 1947, all of these areas — Hollidays Cove, Marland Heights, Weirton Heights, and unincorporated Weirton — merged and formed the city of Weirton as it currently exists. Thomas E. Millsop, the head of the Weirton Steel division of the other Ernest T. Weir company, National Steel Corporation
, was elected as the city's first mayor. The city charter was approved by voters in 1950.
Also home to Weirton is the Weirton Steel Corporation which was once a fully integrated steel mill
employing over 12,000 people. It was the largest private employer and the largest taxpayer in West Virginia. This is no longer true. Due to reorganization of the steel industry, not only within the United States but worldwide, the Weirton plant, now part of the international giant Arcelor Mittal, currently operates only the tin-plating section of the mill (though still one of the country's largest tin-plate makers), with only 1,200 workers. During the early 1980s the employees of Weirton Steel endeavored to purchase the mill from National Steel Corporation
as the largest ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Program) in the nation, saving the mill from bankruptcy.
Some civic leaders are attempting to attract businesses and homeowners from the neighboring Pittsburgh metropolitan area, marketing Weirton as a bedroom community, taking advantage of the close proximity to the Pittsburgh International Airport
and major interstates.
Weirton is home to a number of sites on the National Register of Historic Places
including: Johnston-Truax House
, Marland Heights Park and Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Pool
, People's Bank
, Dr. George Rigas House
, and the Peter Tarr Furnace Site
.
border on the west to the Pennsylvania
border on the east at a point where the northern extension of West Virginia is five miles across. Therefore, it is the only city in the United States
that borders two other states on two sides, and its own state on the other two sides.
Weirton is across the Ohio River
from Steubenville
, Ohio, and about 35 miles west of Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
, along U.S. Route 22. Pittsburgh International Airport
is less than 30 miles away. With the opening of the Findlay Connector (PA Turnpike 576, future I-576) in October, 2006, the highway distance to the airport has decreased to about 20 miles.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 19.3 square miles (49.9 km²), of which 17.9 square miles (46.3 km²) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) (7.22%) is water.
/Hanover Township
(Pennsylvania
), New Cumberland
, and Steubenville, Ohio
(via U.S. Route 22
)
of 2000, there were 20,411 people, 8,958 households, and 5,885 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,142.2 people per square mile (441.0/km²). There were 9,546 housing units at an average density of 534.2 per square mile (206.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.52% White, 3.86% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races
, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 8,958 households out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.79.
The age distribution is 19.2% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,212, and the median income for a family was $42,466. Males had a median income of $37,129 versus $19,745 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,853. About 8.0% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
By 2011, the city and its two counties had attracted the attention of the New York Times which noted the town was dwindling in population. The article reported that Brooke County had just 71 live births for every 100 deaths and that Hancock County was in similar straits. This has led, the article claimed, to a reduction in civic institutions.
Weirton has attracted the attention of Hollywood filmmakers and writers on several occasions:
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Most of the city is in Hancock County
Hancock County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,667 people, 13,678 households, and 9,506 families residing in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile . There were 14,728 housing units at an average density of 178 per square mile...
, with the remainder in Brooke County
Brooke County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,447 people, 10,396 households, and 7,152 families residing in the county. The population density was 286 people per square mile . There were 11,150 housing units at an average density of 126 per square mile...
. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,411 (16,525 in Hancock County, 3,886 in Brooke County). It is a part of the Weirton-Steubenville Metropolitan Statistical area
Weirton-Steubenville metropolitan area
The Weirton-Steubenville Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and one in Ohio, anchored by the cities of Weirton, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio...
.
History
The small village called Holliday's Cove—which is now most of downtown Weirton—was founded in the late 18th century. (It eventually lost the apostrophe.) In 1909, Ernest T. Weir arrived from neighboring Pittsburgh and built a steel mill later known as Weirton Steel CorporationISG Weirton Steel
ISG Weirton Steel was once a fully integrated steel producer and one of the world's largest producers of tin plate products. Founded by Ernest T. Weir in 1909 as Weirton Steel, the company later became part of the National Steel Corporation. In 1983, employees agreed to purchase the operation...
just north of Holliday's Cove. http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11159/1152019-60-2.stm An unincorporated settlement called Weirton grew up around the mill that by 1940 was said to be the largest unincorporated city in the United States. By then Hollidays Cove and two other outlying areas, Weirton Heights and Marland Heights, which as their names suggest were on hilltops or ridges surrounding the "Weir–Cove" area, had also incorporated.
Hollidays Cove Fort was a Revolutionary War fortification constructed in 1774 by soldiers from Ft. Pitt. It was located in what is now downtown Weirton, along Harmons Creek (named for Harmon Greathouse), about three miles from its mouth on the Ohio River. It was commanded by Colonel Andrew Van Swearingen (1741-1793) and later by his son-in-law, Captain Samuel Brady (1756-1795), the famous leader of Brady's Rangers. In 1779, over 28 militia were garrisoned at Hollidays Cove. Two years earlier, Colonel Van Swearingen led a dozen soldiers by longboat down the Ohio to help rescue the inhabitants of Ft. Henry in Wheeling in a siege by the British and Indian tribes in 1777. That mission was memorialized in a WPA-era mural painted on the wall of the Cove Post Office by Charles S. Chapman (1879-1962). The mural features Col. John Bilderback, who later gained infamy as the leader of the massacre of the Moravian Indians in Gnadenhutten in 1782.*
- Every Home a Fort, Every Man a Warrior; Michael Edward Nogay (Tri-State Publishing Co.: 2009) ISBN 978-0-578-01862-1.
On July 1, 1947, all of these areas — Hollidays Cove, Marland Heights, Weirton Heights, and unincorporated Weirton — merged and formed the city of Weirton as it currently exists. Thomas E. Millsop, the head of the Weirton Steel division of the other Ernest T. Weir company, National Steel Corporation
National Steel Corporation
The National Steel Corporation was a major American steel producer. It was founded in 1929 through a merger arranged by Weirton Steel with some properties of the Great Lakes Steel Corporation and M.A. Hanna Company. Despite a difficult market in Depression-setting 1930, the company reported USD...
, was elected as the city's first mayor. The city charter was approved by voters in 1950.
Also home to Weirton is the Weirton Steel Corporation which was once a fully integrated steel mill
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
employing over 12,000 people. It was the largest private employer and the largest taxpayer in West Virginia. This is no longer true. Due to reorganization of the steel industry, not only within the United States but worldwide, the Weirton plant, now part of the international giant Arcelor Mittal, currently operates only the tin-plating section of the mill (though still one of the country's largest tin-plate makers), with only 1,200 workers. During the early 1980s the employees of Weirton Steel endeavored to purchase the mill from National Steel Corporation
National Steel Corporation
The National Steel Corporation was a major American steel producer. It was founded in 1929 through a merger arranged by Weirton Steel with some properties of the Great Lakes Steel Corporation and M.A. Hanna Company. Despite a difficult market in Depression-setting 1930, the company reported USD...
as the largest ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Program) in the nation, saving the mill from bankruptcy.
Some civic leaders are attempting to attract businesses and homeowners from the neighboring Pittsburgh metropolitan area, marketing Weirton as a bedroom community, taking advantage of the close proximity to the Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
and major interstates.
Weirton is home to a number of sites on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
including: Johnston-Truax House
Johnston-Truax House
Johnston-Truax House is a historic home located at Weirton, Hancock County, West Virginia. The original log section was built in 1785, and expanded about 1850 and in 1886. It is a 1 1/2 story building with a one story wing. It has log walls covered with clapboard and in turn with siding...
, Marland Heights Park and Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Pool
Marland Heights Park and Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Pool
Marland Heights Park and Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Pool is a historic park and swimming pool located at Weirton, Hancock County, West Virginia. The Park was dedicated in July 1934 and is a contributing site. It has two contributing structures and one building; the Margaret Manson Weir Memorial...
, People's Bank
People's Bank (Weirton, West Virginia)
People's Bank is a historic bank building located at Weirton, Hancock County, West Virginia. It was built in 1930, and is a small Classical Revival building constructed of concrete, steel, brick and stone. The building is one story with a lower level. It consists of a higher front portion than the...
, Dr. George Rigas House
Dr. George Rigas House
Dr. George Rigas House is a historic home located at Weirton, Hancock County, West Virginia. It was built in 1936, and is a five-bay, 2 1/2-story wood frame house with clapboard siding and a side gable roof. It has an eclectic style. It features a gable-roofed portico centered on the main...
, and the Peter Tarr Furnace Site
Peter Tarr Furnace Site
The Peter Tarr Furnace was the first iron furnace west of the Alleghenies. The furnace was built in the 1790s by a man named Grant on property owned by American pioneer James Campbell along Kings Creek near modern Weirton, West Virginia in Hancock County. Peter Tarr purchased the business shortly...
.
Geography
The city of Weirton is located at 40°25′N 80°35′W (40.4086, -80.5760). It extends from the OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
border on the west to the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
border on the east at a point where the northern extension of West Virginia is five miles across. Therefore, it is the only city in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that borders two other states on two sides, and its own state on the other two sides.
Weirton is across the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
from Steubenville
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Ohio, and about 35 miles west of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, along U.S. Route 22. Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
is less than 30 miles away. With the opening of the Findlay Connector (PA Turnpike 576, future I-576) in October, 2006, the highway distance to the airport has decreased to about 20 miles.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 19.3 square miles (49.9 km²), of which 17.9 square miles (46.3 km²) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) (7.22%) is water.
Surrounding areas
Follansbee, ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
/Hanover Township
Hanover Township
-Illinois:* Hanover Township, Cook County, Illinois* Hanover Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois-Indiana:* Hanover Township, Jefferson County, Indiana* Hanover Township, Lake County, Indiana* Hanover Township, Shelby County, Indiana-Iowa:...
(Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
), New Cumberland
New Cumberland, West Virginia
New Cumberland is a city in Hancock County, West Virginia, USA, along the Ohio River. It is the county seat and is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,099 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
, and Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(via U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22 is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 near the Newark Liberty International Airport.US 22 also carries the names of the William...
)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 20,411 people, 8,958 households, and 5,885 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,142.2 people per square mile (441.0/km²). There were 9,546 housing units at an average density of 534.2 per square mile (206.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.52% White, 3.86% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 8,958 households out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.79.
The age distribution is 19.2% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,212, and the median income for a family was $42,466. Males had a median income of $37,129 versus $19,745 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,853. About 8.0% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
By 2011, the city and its two counties had attracted the attention of the New York Times which noted the town was dwindling in population. The article reported that Brooke County had just 71 live births for every 100 deaths and that Hancock County was in similar straits. This has led, the article claimed, to a reduction in civic institutions.
Climate
- Annual Average High Temperatures: 82 °F (summer) 40 °F (winter)
- Annual Average Low Temperatures 60 °F (summer) 25 °F (winter)
- Highest Recorded Temperature: 102 °F (1988)
- Lowest Recorded Temperature: -22 °F (1994)
- Warmest Month: July
- Coolest Month: January
- Highest Precipitation: June
- Annual Precipitation: 40.55 inches
Government
The following people have been elected Mayor of Weirton since the city's incorporation in 1947:| Thomas E. Millsop | 1947–1955 |
| Samuel Kusic | 1955–1959 |
| David T. Frew | 1959–1963 |
| Frank A. Rybka | 1963–1971 |
| Mike A. Andochick, Jr. | 1971–1979 |
| Donald T. Mentzer | 1979–1987 |
| Edwin J. Bowman | 1987–1995 |
| Dean M. Harris | 1995–2003 |
| William M. Miller | 2003–2007 |
| Mark Harris | 2007–2011 |
| George Kondik | 2011–present |
Notable natives
- Gary JeterGary JeterGary Michael Jeter is a former professional American football defensive end in the National Football League...
- Retired NFL Lineman - Quincy WilsonQuincy WilsonQuincy Wilson is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia....
- Running back,Weir High,WVU,Atlanta Falcons,Cincinnati Bengals,2005-current. - James J. AndrewsJames J. AndrewsJames J. Andrews was a Kentucky civilian who worked for the Union Army during the early years of the American Civil War. He led a daring raid behind enemy lines on the Western and Atlantic Railroad, known famously known as the Great Locomotive Chase...
- Union spy during the Civil War (Hollidays Cove) - Bob GainBob GainRobert Gain is a former American football player who played 13 seasons for the Cleveland Browns, and also played in the Canadian Football League. For his NFL career the Pro Football Researchers Association voted Gain in the NFL "Hall of the Very Good in the Class of 2010"...
- Cleveland Browns ('52-'64); 1950 Outland Trophy winner (U. Kentucky) - Bob JeterBob JeterRobert DeLafayette Jeter, Jr. was a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. He was raised in Weirton, WV where he attended Weir High School...
- NFL Defensive Back- Green Bay Packers - Ron WilliamsRon Williams (basketball)Ronald Robert Williams was an American basketball player.A 6'3" guard from Weirton, West Virginia, Williams starred at West Virginia University in the mid-1960s, where he was one of the school's first African American basketball players...
- NBA player for the Golden State WarriorsGolden State WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, and the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... - Ernest T. Weir--Founder, National Steel Corporation
- Michael Starvaggi--Founder, Starvaggi Industries, Inc.
- Harold Daugherty --WV Amateur Athlete of the Year (1945)
- Carl Fodor, Jr--WV Amateur Athlete of the Year (1985)
- Bob Trice--first African-American player for Philadelphia-K.C. (Oakland) Athletics
- Bob Trosch--1st round draft pick, Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl II)
Popular culture reference
Weirton was the subject of a photo essay, "Weir's Weirton," in the Life issue of September 13, 1937. The issue's front cover featured a portrait of Ernest Tener Weir.Weirton has attracted the attention of Hollywood filmmakers and writers on several occasions:
- Weirton was one of several Ohio Valley towns that served as film locations for the acclaimed 1978 film, The Deer HunterThe Deer HunterThe Deer Hunter is a 1978 drama film co-written and directed by Michael Cimino about a trio of Russian American steel worker friends and their infantry service in the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Savage, John Cazale, and George Dzundza...
, starring Robert De NiroRobert De NiroRobert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
and Meryl StreepMeryl StreepMary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
.
- Six years later it served as the primary location for filming of RecklessReckless (1984 film)Reckless is a 1984 love story shot in the Appalachian Mountains and Rust Belt of Steubenville, Ohio, Weirton, West Virginia and Mingo Junction, Ohio. Starring Daryl Hannah and Aidan Quinn. Directed by James Foley and written by Chris Columbus. Soundtrack by INXS, Romeo Void, Bob Seger and Thomas...
starring Aidan QuinnAidan Quinn-Early life:Quinn was born in Chicago, Illinois to Irish parents. He was brought up as a Roman Catholic and raised in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois, as well as in Dublin and Birr, County Offaly in Ireland. His mother, Teresa, was a homemaker, and his father, Michael Quinn, was a professor of...
and Daryl HannahDaryl HannahDaryl Christine Hannah is an American film actress. After making her screen debut in 1978, Hannah starred in a number of Hollywood films throughout the 1980s, notably Blade Runner, Splash, Wall Street and Roxanne and Kill Bill.-Early life:Hannah was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Susan...
.
- The movie Super 8Super 8 (film)Super 8 is a 2011 American science fiction action film written and directed by J. J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, and Kyle Chandler and was released on June 10, 2011 in conventional and IMAX theaters...
was filmed in downtown Weirton, as well as many other places throughout the town, in late September to mid October, 2010. The town stood in for the fictional town of Lillian, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. This movie is produced by Steven SpielbergSteven SpielbergSteven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
and J.J. Abrams.
- Disney featured Weirton briefly in its documentary, America's Heart and SoulAmerica's Heart and SoulAmerica's Heart and Soul is a 2004 film produced by Blacklight Films and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a documentary and was directed by Louis Schwartzberg. The film was nominated for two MovieGuide Awards, winning one....
. During the excerpt, employees of Weirton Steel discuss their concerns with foreign imports and what it is doing to the size of their mill.
- Weirton was also the inspiration and guidance in the 1989 book No Star Nights. According to the author biography included in the book, author Anna Smucker drew upon her memories growing up in Weirton for a tale about childhood spent in an industrial town.
- In the novel The Egyptian Cross MysteryThe Egyptian Cross MysteryThe Egyptian Cross Mystery is a novel that was written in 1932 by Ellery Queen. It is the fifth of the Ellery Queen mysteries.-Plot summary:...
, Ellery QueenEllery QueenEllery Queen is both a fictional character and a pseudonym used by two American cousins from Brooklyn, New York: Daniel Nathan, alias Frederic Dannay and Manford Lepofsky, alias Manfred Bennington Lee , to write, edit, and anthologize detective fiction.The fictional Ellery Queen created by...
spent some time in Weirton while investigating a murder in the small village of Arroyo, West Virginia.