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West Virginia County
Mason County, West Virginia
The Mothman of Point Pleasant and the Silver Bridge collapse - from Point Pleasant's Mothman legend (in 1966-67, over 100 witnesses reported sightings of a winged humanoid creature with glowing red eyes in the Point Pleasant area - the sightings culminated with the catastrophic collapse of the Silver Bridge on December 15, 1967, killing 46 people and ending the Mothman sightings - the story was immortalized in John Keel's "The Mothman Prophecies" and Richard Gere's 2002 film) to the Battle of Point Pleasant (October 10, 1774 - the opening engagement of Lord Dunmore's War, sometimes called the first battle of the American Revolution, fought at the Kanawha-Ohio confluence).
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Office: Mason County Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management – 911 Emergency Drive, Point Pleasant, WV 25550 | Mason County E911: (304) 675-9911
Notes: Actively publishes real-time weather alerts (e.g., severe thunderstorm watches) via its official channels; do NOT attempt to contact these channels in a true emergency – always dial 911 directly. Mason County EMS, 911 Emergency Drive, Point Pleasant, WV 25550, (304) 675-6134, fax (304) 675-5385, operates on 24-on/48-off rotating shifts.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: SH-2 runs along the Ohio River through Point Pleasant; US-35 crosses the county
Transit: No dedicated fixed-route county transit identified; confirm current regional options directly with the county
Note: Mason County Airport (FAA LID: 3I2), owned by the Mason County Commission, sits about 5 miles northeast of downtown Point Pleasant.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Mason County Commission – 200 Sixth Street, Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Notes: Confirm current permitting jurisdiction and process directly with the County Administrator’s office, as detailed building permit information was limited in available sources.
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: Mason County Public Library – 508 Viand Street, Point Pleasant, WV 25550 | (304) 675-0894 | Fax: (304) 675-0895 | Hours: Mon–Fri 10 AM–4 PM (varies by day per some sources; confirm current schedule directly)
Branches: Mason City Public Library, New Haven Public Library, Hannan Public Library
Notes: Point Pleasant’s first public library dates to the early 20th century; the first permanent library was established in 1942 in a former schoolhouse near the old city courthouse, with the current building opening in 1978. The system now serves more than 25,000 residents.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Mason County is genuinely the home of one of America’s most famous cryptid legends – the “Mothman,” a reported entity first sighted near Point Pleasant in November 1966, primarily around the Clifton F. McClintic Wildlife Management Area (locally known as “the TNT area,” a former WWII-era ammunition manufacturing site, the West Virginia Ordnance Works, operated 1942-1945); the Mothman Statue, a roughly 12-foot metal sculpture by artist Bob Roach, was installed on Main Street in 2003 and anchors the annual Mothman Festival, a major regional draw; the county also holds genuine, significant Revolutionary War-era history – the Battle of Point Pleasant, fought October 10, 1774 between Virginia Militia under Colonel Andrew Lewis and Shawnee forces led by Chief Cornstalk, is commemorated at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park (a Wyandotte phrase meaning “point between two waters”), located at the actual confluence of the Ohio and Great Kanawha Rivers, alongside the Point Pleasant Battlefield Monument; a notable 150-foot floodwall mural by artist Robert Dafford, painted with special mineral paint, depicts the battle as part of a series chronicling Mason County and Ohio River Valley history; Riverfront Park includes an 800-seat amphitheater and hosts the annual Sternwheel Regatta; the historic Lowe Hotel on Main Street is among the area’s most recognized landmarks
Notes: Both the Mothman legend’s origin and the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant are genuine, well-documented pieces of history central to this county’s identity – presented here factually rather than as generic tourism copy.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Mason County GIS – accessible via masoncountywv.gov
Parcel Search: Mason County Assessor’s records
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Mason County E911
Services: A county-run shelter – NOT a no-kill facility, though it works to place as many adoptable animals as possible; animals are held per state requirements and either redeemed by owner, adopted, or as a last resort euthanized due to capacity
Notes: IMPORTANT – the county commission caps the shelter’s capacity at just 25 dogs and 20 cats, and the shelter has described itself as a “high intake” facility actively needing rescue partner support; report animal neglect or concerns requiring the dog warden directly to the shelter at (304) 675-6458.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection – dep.wv.gov
Notes: Contact Mason County directly for current refuse collection and recycling program details.
NOTES
Mason County is genuinely the birthplace of the Mothman legend, one of America’s most famous cryptid stories, alongside deeply significant Revolutionary War-era history at the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. The county’s animal shelter operates under a real, tight capacity cap (25 dogs, 20 cats) and is not a no-kill facility, honestly reflecting the resource constraints many small rural shelters in this project face. All contact information above was sourced from official county, library, and shelter pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Mason County
Mason County is western West Virginia’s Mothman and river confluence county – Point Pleasant’s cryptid legend, bridge disaster, and 1774 battle make it one of West Virginia’s most historically and culturally layered communities.
Point Pleasant (the county seat, population ~4,200) at the Ohio-Kanawha confluence draws Mothman enthusiasts from around the world – the Mothman Museum, a 12-foot stainless steel Mothman statue, and the annual Mothman Festival make it one of America’s most dedicated cryptid tourism destinations. The 1967 Silver Bridge collapse that ended the Mothman sightings killed 46 people and prompted comprehensive reforms of American bridge inspection standards.
The 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant – Virginia militia versus Shawnee forces – is commemorated in Tu-Endie-Wei State Park at the river confluence.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Mason County Assessor at 200 Sixth Street, Suite 6, Point Pleasant, WV 25550, phone 304-675-1997. WV residential assessed at 60% of market value. Appeal to Board of Equalization and Review.
Courts & Legal
Mason County Circuit Court at 200 Sixth Street, Point Pleasant, WV 25550, phone 304-675-2840, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
200 6th St, Point Pleasant, WV 25550
(304) 675-1997
CIRCUIT CLERK
200 6th St, Point Pleasant, WV 25550
(304) 675-2370
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Mason County Clerk’s Office, Point Pleasant (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above). Tu-Endie-Wei State Park in Point Pleasant marks the site of the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant, giving Mason County deep pre-statehood documentary and archaeological history.
Local societies
No dedicated Mason 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
Mason County Clerk’s Office (Probate/Fiduciary Supervisor) 200 Sixth Street, Suite 7, Point Pleasant, WV 25550 (304) 675-1997
Mason County was founded January 2, 1804, named for George Mason, along the Ohio River, county seat Point Pleasant – site of the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant, sometimes called the first battle of the American Revolution. 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 Mason 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
200 6th St, Point Pleasant, WV 25550
(304) 675-0733
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
(304) 675-1997
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Department
Mason County Health Department, 210 6th St, Point Pleasant, WV 25550
(304) 675-3050
DHHR Office
Mason County DHHR Office, 210 6th St, Point Pleasant, WV 25550
(304) 675-3010
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Mason County Health Department
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Confirm current hours directly.
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