[5] Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's fourth-most populous city and the center of the Parkersburg–Vienna metropolitan area.

Settlers at first named the city Newport when they settled it in the late 18th century following the American Revolutionary War.

A town section was laid out on land granted to Alexander Parker for his Revolutionary War service.

[7] In 1857, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built a branch line south to the town from Wheeling, West Virginia.

It was constructed in 1868–1870 between Parkersburg and Belpre, Ohio, as part of the B&O's main line from Baltimore to St. Louis, Missouri.

Parkersburg served as a transportation and medical center for Union forces during the American Civil War.

[6] In the late 19th century, Parkersburg emerged as a major oil refining center serving nearby oilfields at Volcano and Burning Springs.

Senator Johnson Newlon Camden, dominated the refining business and was sold to Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company in 1875.

Camden became a Standard director and vice president and, along with John W. Davis, dominated West Virginia politics until the early 20th century.

[9] In the post-World War II period, Parkersburg became one of the leading industrial centers of the Ohio Valley, producing chemicals, glass, O. Ames tools, textiles (especially American Viscose Company rayon), plastics and polymers, iron, and steel.

[6] The Bureau of the Public Debt, an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, was moved to Parkersburg in 1954 as a location midway between Chicago and Washington, D.C. that would be safe in the event of a national emergency.

Worthington Creek, a tributary of the Little Kanawha River, flows through the eastern part of the city.

Suburban parts of southern Wood County include Blennerhassett, Lubeck, and Washington to the southwest, with Mineral Wells located to the southeast.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers, cold winters and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year.

[22][23] The Parkersburg Homecoming Festival is held in August and features a parade, fireworks, half-marathon, competitions and entertainment.

[24][25] The Taste of Parkersburg is an event held around Memorial Day each year since 2006 which features food and drinks from local vendors.

[32] Parkersburg was home to the Ohio Valley Redcoats, a minor league baseball team, from 1993 through 1998.

The city negotiated to bring professional baseball back to Parkersburg but they fell through because of lack of support from the community.

[34] High levels of PFOA, also known as C8, originating in landfills used by the DuPont/Chemours Washington Works chemical company have been noted in Parkersburg drinking water.

The same company also publishes The Marietta Times and Graffiti, West Virginia's alternative news magazine.

There are many radio stations broadcasting from Parkersburg, including 106.1 Z106 (WRZZ),102.1 The River (WRVB), U.S. 107 WNUS, MIX 100 (WDMX), V96.9 (WVVV), WXIL, Froggy 99.1, 103.1 The Bear, and WPKM 96.3 FM "the Beat" which is the college radio station of West Virginia University at Parkersburg.