Huntington, WV City Description
Huntington, a city of 50,000, is the seat of Cabell County and part of the Huntington-Ashland Tri-State area with a population in excess of 300,000. Huntington is alive on the banks of the Ohio River about 50 miles west of Charleston and only 150 miles from Lexington, KY and Cincinnati, OH. With three public airports, easy access to Interstate 64 and one of the largest ports along the Ohio River, Huntington is very accessible.
Historically, Huntington has been referred to as an industrial hub, which still holds true today. Its location and accessability make it an ideal place for businesses and industries to locate. Amazon.com, for example, found the area appealing and moved an East Coast Customer Service Center to Huntington a few years ago. Heiner’s, Special Metal Corp., and CSX Transportation are typical of the businesses succeeding in the area. Plans to develop a biotech center will hopefully lead to further development in the community.
Huntington is not all work as there is plenty of opportunity for play. Ritter Park is one of the city’s most utilized assets. With 70 acres of grass, trees, trails and rose gardens, the park is home to many outdoor activities. These include tennis, biking, walking, rollerblading, soccer and frisbee. The park is also home of the amphitheater used by Huntington Outdoor Theater Group. The state of the art YMCA, one of the top in the state, has an enormous glass wall offering a perfect view of the park while working out.
The central city area of Huntington is bursting with antique shops and unique restaurants. Downtown Huntington houses Camelot and Cinema theaters, both of which have been restored to their original grandeur. The Huntington Museum of Art provides first class exhibits and great children’s programs. Along the Ohio River sits the Harris Riverfront Park where numerous festivals are held throughout the summer. Pullman Square, Huntington's newest entertainment, dining, and shopping village offers numerous events throughout the year in an exciting, open-air surrounding. Just outside Huntington there are six golf courses, four glass factories, a museum that showcases the lives of early pioneers, and during October, a famous Pumpkin Park.
Huntington is home to Marshall University and its popular football team, the Thundering Herd. With over 16,000 students, Marshall is among the largest higher education centers in the state and is featured in the movie, "We Are Marshall". Huntington is home to four other post secondary schools, including: Marshall University Community College, Huntington Community College of Business, Ashland Community College, and the Ohio University Southern Campus.
