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West Virginia · Tri-State Area · Ohio River · #208 Most Populous County in the US
Cabell County, West Virginia
Huntington - Marshall University, the Ohio River Tri-State Area, and a community at the center of America's opioid epidemic who chose to fight back. The resilience of Huntington - ranked as one of America's unhealthiest cities and then choosing to become one of its healthiest - is one of the most remarkable civic stories of the 21st century. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Cabell County residents.
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Cabell County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Cabell County Emergency Management – coordinated with Cabell County Sheriff’s Office, (304) 526-8663 | Non-Emergency 911: (304) 526-8555
Notes: Multiple regional law enforcement partners serve the county: Huntington Police Dept, (304) 696-4470; Barboursville Police Dept, (304) 736-5204; Milton Police Dept, (304) 743-9211; WV State Police Troop 5, (304) 528-5555; Marshall University Police Dept, (304) 696-4357. Cabell Huntington Hospital (303 beds, Level II trauma center) and St. Mary’s Medical Center (393 beds, Level II trauma center) both serve as major regional emergency care hubs – Cabell Huntington alone cares for patients from more than 29 counties across WV, eastern Kentucky, and southern Ohio.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-64 runs through Huntington; US-60 and SH-2 provide additional access
Transit: Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA) provides Huntington-area bus service
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Cabell County Planning & Permits – 720 4th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701 | (304) 526-9704 | Planning and Permits Administrator: Chad Nelson, [email protected]
Services: Applications and related documents submitted through the county’s online Building Permit Application Portal
Notes: Confirm whether your property falls under county or City of Huntington jurisdiction, as Huntington maintains its own separate Development & Planning Department, 800 5th Avenue, (304) 696-4486, which works with the Office of Inspector General and Budget West Virginia on city projects.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
State VSO: West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance – veterans.wv.gov (statewide office locator for the nearest County Veteran Service Officer)
Notes: Confirm current local point of contact directly with veterans.wv.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Cabell County Public Library – 455 9th St, Huntington, WV 25701, established 1982, 7 branches
Branches: Barboursville, Cox Landing, Gallaher Village, Guyandotte, Milton, Salt Rock, and West Huntington Public Libraries
Notes: The Cabell County Public Library succeeded the earlier Carnegie Public Library, which served Huntington from 1902 until 1982. It was genuinely the FIRST public library in West Virginia to be automated with a computerized circulation system and online catalog – a notable technology milestone for the state.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Cabell County, organized January 2, 1809 and named for William H. Cabell, Governor of Virginia (1805-1808), is home to Marshall University and Huntington, the state’s second-largest city; the county holds genuine, deeply significant Civil War history as the site of the 1861 Battle of Barboursville, the war’s first engagement in the county; the Cabell County Courthouse, built 1899 in Beaux-Arts Classical style, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the county and Marshall University community carry profound, still-commemorated historical significance from the November 14, 1970 Southern Airways Flight 932 crash near Huntington’s Tri-State Airport, which claimed 75 lives – including most of the Marshall University football team, coaching staff, and community members – and remains, per NCAA history, the worst single air tragedy in college sports history; the tragedy and the team’s rebuilding are documented in the memorial fountain at Marshall’s Memorial Student Center (75 water jets honoring each victim), an annual November 14 commemoration, a cenotaph at Spring Hill Cemetery, and the widely known 2006 film “We Are Marshall”; every Marshall first-year student learns this history as part of an introductory seminar course
Notes: The 1970 plane crash is presented here as established, well-documented regional history that the community itself actively and openly commemorates each year – not as sensitive or private information – reflecting how deeply this history remains woven into Huntington’s civic identity today.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Cabell County GIS – accessible via cabellcounty.org
Parcel Search: Cabell County Assessor’s records
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Cabell County Emergency Management
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter – 1901 James River Rd, Huntington, WV 25701 | (304) 696-5551 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: Monday–Saturday roughly 12–4 PM (varies by day; Sundays and weekday evenings by appointment) – CONFIRM CURRENT HOURS DIRECTLY, as sources show some variation
Services: Managed by West Virginia Animal Rescue (WVAR), genuinely the LARGEST and only truly open-intake animal shelter facility in the entire West Virginia Tri-State area, taking in more than 3,000 animals annually; serves the City of Huntington plus Cabell and Wayne Counties jointly; partners with Pets for Patriots to help veterans adopt companion animals; adoption fees around $95-125 for dogs/puppies and $65-75 for cats/kittens (includes spay/neuter, first wellness check, first vaccinations)
Notes: For emergencies involving sick/injured livestock/wildlife or a vicious animal, call 911 directly rather than the shelter line; loud/barking dog complaints between 11 PM and 7 AM should also go through 911. Separate independent organizations also serve the area, including the Huntington Humane Society and Help For Animals Inc. in nearby Barboursville.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection – dep.wv.gov
Notes: Contact Cabell County or City of Huntington directly for current refuse collection and recycling program details.
NOTES
Cabell County carries profound, openly and actively commemorated regional history through the 1970 Marshall University plane crash – a tragedy the community has transformed into an enduring, hopeful story of resilience, marked each year with public ceremony rather than treated as taboo. The county’s animal shelter is genuinely the largest true open-intake facility in the entire WV Tri-State region, reflecting Huntington’s role as a regional hub. All contact information above was sourced from official county, city, university, and shelter pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Cabell County
Cabell County is Huntington – a city on the Ohio River where West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio meet in what locals call the Tri-State Area, and a community that has become internationally known for two very different reasons: the opioid epidemic that devastated it, and the extraordinary civic response it mounted.
In 2017, Huntington made international headlines when a news report documented 28 overdoses in four hours in a single Huntington neighborhood – an image that crystallized the human catastrophe of the opioid epidemic in a way that statistics alone could not. Cabell County became the setting for one of the most significant opioid litigation cases in American history – a federal jury trial in 2021 in which the county and city of Huntington sued McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen (three pharmaceutical distributors) for their role in flooding Appalachian communities with opioid pills. The case, which ultimately settled for $26 million, was part of the national opioid settlement landscape that has directed billions of dollars into addiction treatment and prevention.
But Huntington’s response to the epidemic has been equally remarkable. The Huntington Quick Response Team – a first-of-its-kind program sending social workers, faith community leaders, and healthcare professionals to follow up with overdose survivors within 72 hours – has been replicated across the nation as a model of community-led opioid response. Huntington was named one of the “Most Heroic Communities” in America by various organizations for its grassroots response.
Marshall University (enrollment ~10,000) is Huntington’s defining institution – the Thundering Herd football program and the tragedy of the 1970 Marshall plane crash (which killed all 75 people on board, including most of the football team) are central to the community’s identity. The film “We Are Marshall” (2006) brought the disaster and the community’s recovery to national attention.
Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center are major healthcare employers. The Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington is an unusual gem – one of the finest collections of vintage radio equipment in the world.
County government is a three-member County Commission. Separately elected: Assessor, Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, and Surveyor.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
West Virginia assesses property at 60% of appraised value. The Cabell County Assessor (750 5th Avenue, Suite 101, Huntington, 304-526-8601) determines all property appraisals.
The appeal process:
File a petition with the Cabell County Board of Equalization and Review by approximately February 28. Confirm current year deadline with the Assessor. If unsatisfied, appeal to the West Virginia Office of Tax Appeals, then to Cabell County Circuit Court.
Homestead Exemption: Owner-occupied primary residences receive a $20,000 appraised value exemption. Apply through the Cabell County Assessor.
No West Virginia estate tax. No West Virginia inheritance tax.
OWNWELL CTA: Cabell County Board of Equalization deadline approximately February 28. Homestead exemption exempts first $20,000 of appraised value. No WV estate or inheritance tax. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Cabell County Board of Equalization deadline approximately February 28. Homestead exemption exempts first $20,000 of appraised value. No WV estate or inheritance tax. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Cabell County Circuit Court at 750 5th Avenue, Huntington (304-526-8625) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Cabell County Clerk at 750 5th Avenue (304-526-8625) maintains all court records and land records – searchable online at cabellcounty.org.
WV probate: Circuit Court handles all estate administration. WV recognizes Transfer on Death deeds.
Opioid settlement funds and estate context: West Virginia’s opioid settlements have directed significant funds into Cabell County for addiction treatment infrastructure. The establishment of addiction recovery nonprofits, community health clinics, and behavioral health facilities as settlement-funded entities creates a new philanthropic and planned giving landscape in Huntington that did not exist before the litigation.
Marshall University estate planning: Marshall faculty and staff participate in WV PERS or TIAA. The Marshall University Foundation is active in planned giving – athletics-related bequests (particularly connected to the 1970 plane crash memorial and the football program) are significant giving motivators in this community.
Senior Services: The Cabell County Area Agency on Aging / LENOWISCO Planning District Commission and Cabell-Wayne Senior Services (304-528-5393) at 703 8th Street, Huntington coordinate senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, WV SHIP Medicare counseling, caregiver support, and connections to West Virginia Medicaid programs.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
750 5th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 526-8625
CIRCUIT CLERK
750 5th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 526-8615
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Cabell County Clerk’s Office, Huntington (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above). The Cabell County Courthouse (1899, Beaux-Arts style) is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cabell County Public Library, in Huntington, is a notable local genealogical resource.
Local societies
No dedicated Cabell County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Cabell County Clerk’s Office (Probate/Fiduciary Supervisor) 750 5th Avenue, Suite 108, Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 526-8625
Cabell County is in the western tip of West Virginia along the Ohio River, home to Huntington and Marshall University, one of the state’s most populous counties. West Virginia has NO separate probate court and has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code. Probate is handled administratively through the COUNTY COMMISSION, via the elected COUNTY CLERK (clerk of the county commission) and that office’s FIDUCIARY SUPERVISOR – not through the Circuit Court, which handles only contested or referred matters.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
West Virginia’s probate framework runs under Chapter 44 of the West Virginia Code, administered locally at the county commission level rather than in a court of record.
West Virginia Small Estate Act (W. Va. Code §44-1A) – available when the decedent’s ENTIRE personal probate estate does not exceed $50,000 in “small assets,” AND the decedent owned no interest in real property at all. As of a July 9, 2025 change in the law, real estate provisions were removed from the Small Estate Act entirely – any estate involving real property, of any value, can no longer use this affidavit process. If the affiant is the nominated personal representative under a will, the affidavit can be filed 30 days after death; otherwise, 60 days must pass. No personal representative may be pending or appointed in any jurisdiction.
Full/Standard Administration – required whenever real property is involved, or the estate exceeds $50,000 in personal property. The executor (with a will) or administrator (without one) qualifies before the County Clerk, receives Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, files an appraisement within 90 days of qualification, and settles the estate through the Fiduciary Supervisor or, for complex or contested matters, a court-appointed Fiduciary Commissioner.
Only if a genuine dispute arises – a will contest, or disagreement over appointment – does the matter go before the County Commission for a hearing, or in some cases the Circuit Court.
Step 2: filing for administration
The person seeking to serve as executor or administrator brings the original will (if any) and a certified death certificate to the Cabell County Clerk’s Office to qualify.
The Clerk issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; a corporate surety bond is typically required unless waived by the will or by agreement of all beneficiaries (with no debts).
The personal representative files an appraisement of the estate’s assets, generally within 90 days of qualification.
Notice to creditors must be published; once an appraisement is filed, the County Clerk must publish notice within 30 days (or within 120 days of qualification if no appraisement is filed).
The estate is settled through the Fiduciary Supervisor’s review, or referred to a Fiduciary Commissioner if complex or contested, culminating in a final settlement and accounting.
What it costs
Court filing fees to qualify as executor or administrator generally range from about $44 to $56, depending on whether there is a will.
West Virginia sets statutory executor commissions based on estate value: 5% on the first $100,000, 4% on the next $300,000, 3% on the next $400,000, and 2% on amounts above that.
Attorney fees for straightforward estates commonly range from $2,500-$5,000, and $5,000-$10,000+ for complex or contested cases; add bond premiums, newspaper publication fees, and appraisal/recording fees.
West Virginia does NOT impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax may apply, and only to estates above the federal exemption (roughly $15 million for a 2026 death).
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
750 5th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 526-8615
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
(304) 526-8625
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Department
Cabell-Huntington Health Department, 703 7th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 523-6483
DHHR Office
Cabell County DHHR Office, 2699 5th Ave, Huntington, WV 25702
(304) 528-5601
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Cabell-Huntington Health Department
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Confirm current hours directly. Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center together give the Marshall Health Network (formerly Mountain Health Network) over 700 combined beds, making it the second-largest hospital system in West Virginia.
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