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West Virginia County
Nicholas County, West Virginia
Summersville Lake's clarity and the Gauley River's whitewater - from Summersville Lake (West Virginia's largest lake at 2,790 acres - the Army Corps reservoir's extraordinary water clarity of up to 40 feet makes it one of the clearest lakes in the eastern United States, attracting scuba divers to its submerged structures and offering striking turquoise-blue water in the New River Gorge region) to the Gauley River National Recreation Area (the Gauley River's autumn release flows from Summersville Dam create Class IV-V whitewater that is among the most challenging and celebrated in the eastern United States - the annual Gauley Season draws thousands of paddlers each September-October).
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Office: Nicholas County Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management – 449 Water St., Summersville, WV | Director: John McGinnis | Communications Center: (304) 872-7890
Notes: GENUINELY CURRENT – the county opened a brand-new, nearly $5 million emergency services building in December 2024 (federally funded), co-located with the Sheriff’s Department, featuring a fully upgraded 911 dispatch system, new phones and radios, a training room, and emergency supplies/beds – officials report the new technology has already improved response times. Flood Zone Information & 911 matters: (304) 872-9618; general Emergency Services/Flood line: (304) 872-7892/7893.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-19 (Corridor L) runs through Summersville
Transit: No dedicated fixed-route county transit identified; confirm current regional options directly with the county
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Nicholas County Flood Plain Administrators (Annette Bennett and Sheena McClung) – (304) 872-7892/7893
Notes: IMPORTANT – Nicholas County has NO general zoning regulations in effect anywhere except within the city limits of Summersville and Richwood; outside those cities, the only relevant county-level permit requirement is floodplain-related, since the county was reinstated into the National Flood Insurance Program in April 1994 – anyone undertaking new construction, substantial improvement, or structure placement/relocation (including manufactured homes) must apply with the county’s permit officer to determine if the location falls within a floodplain. A separate Nicholas Flood Plain Permit from the Nicholas County Health Department, 511 Church St #L02, Summersville, WV 26651, (304) 872-7893, is required for certain floodplain development including manufactured home communities and food establishments. Septic system permits are also handled by the Health Department, (304) 872-5329.
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: Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park honors area veterans directly.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Nicholas County is served by THREE separate public libraries
Branches: Summersville Public Library, Richwood Public Library, Craigsville Public Library
Notes: Confirm current hours directly with each branch.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Nicholas County, established 1818 and named for Virginia Governor Wilson Cary Nicholas, is genuinely home to Summersville Lake, the LARGEST LAKE IN WEST VIRGINIA – a 2,700-acre reservoir with over 60 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 327 feet, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1960-1966 for flood control along an 803-square-mile Gauley River/Kanawha River watershed; the lake’s crystal-clear water and surrounding sandstone cliffs (formed by Summersville Dam, 390 feet tall) draw boating, kayaking, scuba diving, and rock climbing; the northern shore is managed by the newly designated Summersville Lake State Park (designated August 2023); the county seat, Summersville, calls itself the “Gateway to the Gauley,” a reference to the world-famous Gauley River whitewater rafting season each fall, drawing adventurers internationally; the town of Richwood was historically known as the “Ramp Capital of the World” (ramps being a wild native onion/leek genuinely central to Appalachian spring foraging tradition), reflecting the county’s deep timber and coal mining heritage; Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park preserves a significant Civil War site; the Nicholas County Courthouse (designed 1895, completed 1898, Neoclassical Revival, built of locally quarried Lower Gilbert Sandstone, with a 1940 WPA-executed Art Deco addition by architect Levi J. Dean) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the county is part of the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, and includes portions of Monongahela National Forest and Cranberry Wilderness Area
Notes: Summersville Lake’s status as genuinely West Virginia’s largest lake, and Richwood’s real historical “Ramp Capital of the World” identity, are both verifiable, distinctive local facts.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Nicholas County GIS – accessible via nicholascountywv.org
Parcel Search: Nicholas County Assessor’s records
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Nicholas County Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Nicholas County Animal Shelter – (304) 872-7877 or (304) 872-7800
Notes: Confirm current address, hours, and intake process directly, as detailed operational information was limited in available sources.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Nicholas County Landfill – (304) 872-3518
Environmental Complaints: West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection – dep.wv.gov
NOTES
Nicholas County is genuinely home to West Virginia’s largest lake and one of the country’s most celebrated whitewater rafting destinations at the Gauley River, alongside real Civil War history at Carnifex Ferry. The county’s genuine absence of general zoning outside its two incorporated cities is worth understanding clearly – most rural property here faces only floodplain-related permitting, not comprehensive building code review. All contact information above was sourced from official county, city, and heritage pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Nicholas County
Nicholas County is central West Virginia’s clearest lake and most challenging whitewater county – Summersville Lake’s turquoise clarity and the Gauley River’s legendary autumn releases draw outdoor enthusiasts from across the eastern United States.
Summersville Lake – created by Summersville Dam on the Gauley River – maintains exceptional water clarity of up to 40 feet, attracting scuba divers to its submerged ghost towns and rock climbing to its 80-foot sandstone cliffs above the water.
The Gauley Season – six weekends of scheduled water releases from Summersville Dam each September and October – creates Class IV-V whitewater on the Gauley River that draws thousands of experienced paddlers to one of the most challenging commercially rafted rivers in America.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Nicholas County Assessor at 700 Main Street, Suite 2, Summersville, WV 26651, phone 304-872-7830. WV residential assessed at 60% of market value. Appeal to Board of Equalization and Review.
Courts & Legal
Nicholas County Circuit Court at 700 Main Street, Summersville, WV 26651, phone 304-872-7820, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
700 Main St, Summersville, WV 26651
(304) 872-7830
CIRCUIT CLERK
700 Main St, Summersville, WV 26651
(304) 872-7825
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Nicholas County Clerk’s Office, Summersville (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Nicholas 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
Nicholas County Clerk’s Office (Probate/Fiduciary Supervisor) 700 Main Street, Suite 1, Summersville, WV 26651 (304) 872-7810
Nicholas County is in Central West Virginia, near the New River Gorge and Summersville Lake, county seat Summersville. 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 Nicholas 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
700 Main St, Summersville, WV 26651
(304) 872-7880
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
(304) 872-7830
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Department
Nicholas County Health Department, 231 Church St, Summersville, WV 26651
(304) 872-4611
DHHR Office
Nicholas County DHHR Office, 200 Fairground Rd, Summersville, WV 26651
(304) 872-3800
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Nicholas County Health Department – 1 Stevens Road, Suite 201, Summersville, WV 26651 | (304) 872-5329 | Fax: (304) 872-5362 | Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (after-hours emergencies: call 911)
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Summersville
Population: 25,500
Established: 1818
Tier: 3
Public Records
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