Chester, West Virginia
Chester is a city of 2,179 people in Hancock County, West Virginia.
Why visit Chester
Townapedia lists 26 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 7 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Jennings Randolph Bridge, Rock Springs Park, Carnegie Public Library and Diamond Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 21°F.
Weather in Chester
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Chester
Chester is a city in Hancock County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,214 at the 2020 census. It is located along the Ohio River in the state's northern panhandle and is the northernmost city in West Virginia. Chester is considered part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area and is home to the Chester teapot attraction, dubbed the "world's largest teapot".
From the Wikipedia article Chester, West Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Jennings Randolph Bridge
Bridge · 0.4 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Rock Springs Park
Monument and historic site
Defunct amusement park once located in Chester, West Virginia
Wayne Six Toll Bridge
Bridge · 1.5 mi
Bridge in East Liverpool and Newell, West Virginia
Museums and landmarks26
Carnegie Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Public library in East Liverpool, Ohio, USA
Diamond Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in Ohio, United States
East Fifth Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic district in Ohio, United States
Beginning Point of the U.S. Public Land Survey
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Site in Ohio and Pennsylvania, US
Cassius Clark Thompson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic residence on the edge of downtown East Liverpool, Ohio, United States
City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Seat of government in East Liverpool, Ohio, United States
East Liverpool Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic district in East Liverpool, Ohio, United States
Elks Club
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Building in East Liverpool, Ohio
Godwin-Knowles House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic house in Ohio, United States
Homer Laughlin House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in East Liverpool, United States of America
Ikirt House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Ohio, United States
James F. Murray House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in West Virginia, United States
14 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Restaurants and cafes7
History
Chester was founded in 1896 and incorporated in 1907. The town was established by lawyer J.E. McDonald from neighboring East Liverpool, Ohio. The origin of the name Chester is uncertain, although it may be a transfer from Chester County, Pennsylvania.
The town grew in the early 20th century, led primarily by the pottery industry founded in nearby East Liverpool. The Taylor, Smith & Taylor Company was the leading manufacturer in Chester, employing over 800 people at one time. Another large employer was the steel-manufacturing Chester Rolling Mill Company.
Rock Springs Park was a small amusement park founded by McDonald in 1897 and home to various rides, a swimming pool, a lake, a small zoo, and live performances. It closed in 1970 for the expansion of U.S. Route 30 through Chester.
The Chester teapot attraction was purchased by Wilford Devon in 1938 and moved to Chester from Carnegie, Pennsylvania. It served as a barrel-shaped food stand with soft serve ice cream, hot dogs, and soft drinks until it was moved and remodeled to its current location in 1990. The attraction is billed as the "world's largest teapot". The teapot has been featured in depictions of West Virginia, such as the 2018 video game Fallout 76.
From the History section of Chester, West Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship30
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries23
New Manchester Elementary School
School · 5.8 mi
128 Frankfort Rd, New Cumberland
Healthcare1
Map of Chester
100 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 21°F | 3.1 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 22°F | 2.6 in |
| Mar | 49°F | 29°F | 3.3 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 40°F | 3.6 in |
| May | 72°F | 49°F | 4.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.4 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.6 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 56°F | 3.9 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 44°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 34°F | 2.9 in |
| Dec | 41°F | 27°F | 3.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for New Cumberland L/D (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Hancock County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-05-24: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2024-05-22: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-04-17: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Mud/Landslide)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Beaver County Airport (BFP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- East Liverpool 1 mi north, about 2 min by car
- Glenmoor 4 mi northwest, about 7 min by car
- Wellsville 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Calcutta 5 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Midland 6 mi east, about 9 min by car
- Ohioville 6 mi northeast, about 10 min by car
- Industry 9 mi east, about 14 min by car
- Toronto 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Weirton 14 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Beaver 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Chester, West Virginia - 7934219552, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Carnegie Library, East Liverpool, Ohio July 2022, 636Buster, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Diamond Historic District, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- East 5th Street Historic District, East Liverpool, Ohio July 2022, 636Buster, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Potters Savings and Loan from Washington, Nyttend, Public domain
- Site of the Homer Laughlin House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Old Potters National Bank, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- Godwin-Knowles House, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- Elks Club, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- Site of the James F. Murray House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Odd Fellows Temple, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- Beginning Point of the U.S. Public Land Survey front, User:Nyttend, Public domain
- Richard L. Cawood Residence, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- Thompson House, E. Liverpool, OH, 636Buster, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WellsHouseNorthElevation, Generic1139, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Travelers Hotel, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- YMCA, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ikirt House, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- State Street in the Salem Downtown HD, Nyttend, Public domain
- City Hall, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- Mary A. Patterson Memorial, East Liverpool, Nyttend, Public domain
- East Liverpool Pottery, Nyttend, Public domain
- Jennings Randolph Bridge from northwest, Nyttend, Public domain
- East-liverpool-ohio-aerial, Derek Jensen ( Tysto ), Public domain
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