[2] The county, founded in 1846, is named for Lewis Wetzel, a famous frontiersman and Indian fighter.

Later that year, West Virginia's 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.

[4] Wetzel County was divided into six districts: Center,[i] Church, Grant, Green, Magnolia, and Proctor.

[12] As of the 2010 United States census, there were 16,583 people, 6,968 households, and 4,768 families living in the county.

[16] As of the census of 2000, there were 17,693 people, 7,164 households, and 5,079 families living in the county.

25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Wetzel County was a rarity among northern West Virginia counties in supporting secession at the Virginia Secession Convention,[17] and it reliably supported Democratic presidential candidates for the next ninety years.

[18] Since that time Wetzel County has followed the politics of West Virginia: a Democratic-leaning state up to the Clinton Era, after which the Democratic Party's consistent shift to social-liberal positions and support of green policies – an antithesis to the region's traditional economy – have caused Wetzel County to trend rapidly toward the Republican Party.

A local group of citizens known as the "Redmen" ultimately cornered the gang at this home and a number of the members were killed.

A detailed description exists in the Wetzel County History written approximately in 1900.

During the Oil boom of the 19th century it is reported that the Proctor Creek watershed had 12 saloons and numerous livery/hotels to accommodate the hundreds of logging and oil field workers.