Rio, West Virginia

Last updated
Rio, West Virginia
USA West Virginia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Rio
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Rio
Coordinates: 39°8′18″N78°40′12″W / 39.13833°N 78.67000°W / 39.13833; -78.67000
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Hampshire
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID1545756 [1]
Old Rio Schoolhouse. Old Rio School Rio WV 2004.JPG
Old Rio Schoolhouse.

Rio (pronounced RYE-O) is an unincorporated community in southern Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Rio is located just north of the Hardy County line at the crossroads of Augusta-Ford Hill Road (West Virginia Secondary Route 53) and Delray Road (West Virginia Route 29) in the North River Valley. According to the 2000 census, the Rio community has a population of 154. [2]

Contents

The community most likely was named for the nearby North River, rio meaning "river" in Spanish. [3]

According to the official Hampshire County history book, Rio was originally going to be named Oxford, but a hamlet in Doddridge County already carried the name. residents were then going to name the village Richardson, but that name didn't stick either. Ultimately, they decided to name the town after an indigenous landmark to the valley, so they named the town Rio, the Spanish word for river, after North River that runs through the center of town. The Spanish word is pronounced "Ree-Oh," but in the town of Rio, locals and others culturally pronounce the town name as "Rye-Oh." (Hampshire County, West Virginia, 1754-2004, published by the Hampshire County 250th Anniversary Committee)

Sitting in North River around Rio is a well-known landmark—The Rio Turtle (also sometimes called Turtle Rock). The rock formation is shaped like a turtle and various residents, over decades, have painted the Rio Turtle to resemble its name, often with a traditional green shell. The Rio Turtle is among the town's most famous natural landmarks.

Historic sites and attractions

Ebenezer Lutheran Church. EbenezerLutheranChurchRioWV.jpg
Ebenezer Lutheran Church.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampshire County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Hampshire County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,093. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town (1762). The county was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1754, from parts of Frederick and Augusta Counties (Virginia) and is the state's oldest county. The county lies in both West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Highlands regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 19</span> Highway in the United States

U.S. Route 19 or U.S. Highway 19 (US 19) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield, West Virginia</span> Census-designated place in West Virginia, United States

Springfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in northwestern Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, Springfield had a population of 477. Springfield is located north of Romney along West Virginia Route 28 at its junction with Green Spring Road and Springfield Pike. It is currently considering incorporation.

Forks of Cacapon, formerly Forks of Capon, is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The community is named for its location at the confluence of the North River and Cacapon River. Forks of Cacapon is also located at another fork: the crossroads of West Virginia Route 29, West Virginia Route 127, and Frank Haines Road.

Augusta is an unincorporated community in central Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States. It is located along the Northwestern Turnpike at the northern terminus of Augusta-Ford Hill Road between Shanks and Pleasant Dale, east of Romney. According to the 2000 census, the Augusta community has a population of 4,728.

Delray is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Delray is located in the North River Valley along Delray Road between Sedan and Rio. According to the 2000 census, the Delray community has a population of 151.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levels, West Virginia</span> Unincorporated community in West Virginia, United States

Levels is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. According to the 2000 census, the Levels community has a population of 147. It is home to John J. Cornwell Elementary School.

Pleasant Dale is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Pleasant Dale is located between Capon Bridge and Augusta on the Northwestern Turnpike. Tearcoat Creek flows through Pleasant Dale and offers whitewater rafting in the Spring from the U.S. Route 50 bridge to its confluence with the North River.

Slanesville is an unincorporated community in northeastern Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Slanesville is located at the crossroads of Bloomery Pike with Slanesville Pike and Cold Stream Road. Slanesville Pike and Cold Stream Road formerly made up the Springfield Grade Road that ran from Capon Bridge to Springfield. According to the 2000 census, the Slanesville community has a population of 691.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanks, West Virginia</span> Unincorporated community in West Virginia, United States

Shanks is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. According to the 2000 census, the Shanks community has a population of 806.

Frenchburg is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Frenchburg is located along the Northwestern Turnpike where the Little Cacapon River is formed by the confluence of the North and South forks of the Little Cacapon east of Shanks. Frenchburg is also the location of the southern terminus of Little Cacapon River Road on U.S. Route 50. Frenchburg is primarily known for the events that took place there during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Route 127</span>

West Virginia Route 127 is an east–west state highway located in northeast West Virginia. The western terminus is at West Virginia Route 29 near Forks of Cacapon in Hampshire County. The eastern terminus is at the Virginia state line west of U.S. Route 522 and east of Good, where WV 127 continues eastward as State Route 127.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Route 29</span>

West Virginia Route 29 is a north–south state highway located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The southern terminus of the route is at West Virginia Route 55 and West Virginia Route 259 in Baker, Hardy County. The northern terminus is at West Virginia Route 9 three miles (5 km) south of Paw Paw in Hampshire County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rio Turtle</span> Turtle-shaped rock in the U.S. state of West Virginia

The Rio Turtle or Turtle Rock is a turtle-shaped rock located in the North River along Augusta-Ford Hill Road approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of the community of Rio, West Virginia. While this stretch of the North River forms the border between Hampshire and Hardy Counties, the Rio Turtle is located on the Hampshire side.

Short Mountain Wildlife Management Area is located on 8,005 acres (32.40 km2) eight miles (13 km) south of Augusta off Augusta-Ford Hill Road in Hampshire County, West Virginia. Short Mountain WMA is owned by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Tearcoat Creek is an 18.3-mile-long (29.5 km) free-flowing tributary stream of the North River, itself a tributary of the Cacapon River, making it a part of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. The creek is located in central Hampshire County, West Virginia. Its name is believed to have been derived from the tearing of the coats of British soldiers by low-hanging branches as they forded the stream during either the French and Indian or the American Revolutionary Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 11 in West Virginia</span>

U.S. Route 11 (US 11) in the U.S. state of West Virginia spans 26.2 miles (42.2 km) across the Eastern Panhandle region. US 11 enters the state near Ridgeway and crosses into Maryland just south of Williamsport. The highway closely parallels Interstate 81 (I-81) for its entire length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North River (Cacapon River tributary)</span> River in the United States

The North River is a tributary of the Cacapon River, belonging to the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. The river is located in Hampshire and Hardy counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The mouth of the North River into the Cacapon is located at Forks of Cacapon. From its headwaters to its mouth, the North River spans 52.4 miles (84.3 km) in length.

The Champion Bridge Company, formerly known as Champion Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company, is a steel fabrication business based in Wilmington, Ohio, in the United States. It has been in business since the 1870s, and several of its works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rio, West Virginia
  2. Rio, West Virginia ZIP code profile, DownloadZIPCode.com Archived 2005-12-30 at the Wayback Machine . Accessed 2008-01-19.
  3. Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 532.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Rio, West Virginia at Wikimedia Commons