Taylor County is part of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area.

This area was populated by the Adena culture in the Pre-Columbian Woodland period of the Native Americans in the United States.

Some of the first Europeans to visit the area are thought to have been British Army deserters from Fort Pitt, who reportedly fled their post in 1761 during the French and Indian War and roamed northwestern Virginia for several years thereafter.

A European trader with the Hudson's Bay Company reportedly set foot in these lands as early as 1764.

Initially known as Cross Roads, on January 1, 1801, it was renamed Williamsport in honor of Abraham Williams, a longtime resident.

The name was changed again on January 23, 1845, to honor pioneer settler John Prunty, Sr (1745-1823) and son David.

Later that year, the counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government.

This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts.

[5] Taylor County was initially divided into nine townships: Booths Creek,[i] Clay, Court House, Fetterman, Flemington, Grafton, Haymond, Union, and Webster.

[6] The West Virginia Equal Suffrage Association was founded in November 1895 at the Taylor County Courthouse[7] after a meeting called by leaders of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

[14] As of the 2010 United States census, there were 16,895 people, 6,778 households, and 4,703 families living in the county.

[15] In terms of ancestry, 26.1% were German, 22.9% were Irish, 11.3% were American, 10.3% were English, 7.2% were Italian, and 5.1% were Dutch.

Taylor County, competitive throughout the 20th century, has been solidly Republican in presidential elections since 2000.