In 1778, Levi Shinn constructed his log home along what is now Route 19; today it is the oldest standing structure in north-central West Virginia.

[2] The roots of Shinnston date back to 1778, when Levi Shinn constructed his log home.

The log house, located along Route 19, is the oldest standing structure in North Central West Virginia.

This model remained in place for over 70 years and in 1998, the citizens voted to revise the charter to adopt a City Manager-Council form of local government.

In its early years, the town saw the development of a tannery, wagon makers, an undertaker, mercantile interests, a pottery, and a local newspaper.

Energy generation continues to be a major source of jobs and economic activity today, as evidenced by the existing mines as well as the nearby Harrison Power Station.

Over the years residents have been challenged by natural disasters, including the Shinnston tornado, which hit on June 23, 1944.

After wreaking havoc in farming communities northwest of Shinnston, the twister hit hardest in a neighborhood known as Pleasant Hill, where no more than 10 houses were left standing.

Phone service, however, was disrupted for only a short time, thanks to wartime emergency backup preparations.

Among the many unexpected ways people helped each other were the lending of generators to the hospitals by a traveling circus and grave digging by the prison camp laborers from Gypsy, north of Shinnston.

Selfless efforts were also made by elected officials, the National Guard, police, road crews, firefighters, nurses, doctors, and common citizens.

Tornadoes are rare in West Virginia, which has among the nation's lowest rates of occurrence for such storms.

F-4 storms produce winds faster than 206 miles per hour, capable of leveling houses and throwing automobiles.

[6] The area was heavily Northern in its sentiments during the Civil War, and many local men served in the Union Army.

[9] in northern Harrison County According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.73 square miles (4.48 km2), all land.

SCB began in 1996 and is North Central West Virginia’s premiere community concert band.