Fresh air, forests overflowing with wildlife, rivers teeming with fish, small towns and friendly neighbors—Hardy County offers the kind of life many only dream about.
Hardy County is close enough to major urban centers such as Washington, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but far enough away to nurture a rural, safe and family-focused community lifestyle. With close ties to its southern mountain heritage, tradition is the element that binds communities together.
Among its greatest strengths is its commitment to cultivating the bright minds of tomorrow through a vibrant educational system, including a Child Care Center that is recognized as an industry-driven pioneering program.
Education
The Hardy County public school system offers a rich and vibrant education for its children from Kindergarten through high school. The Hardy County public school system also works closely with the South Branch Vocational Technical Center and the Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College to develop programs that encourage students to train for local industry needs.
Public schools in Hardy County include the following:
- Moorefield Elementary
- Moorefield Intermediate
- East Hardy Early Middle
- Moorefield Middle
- Moorefield High
- East Hardy High
Child Care
Established in 1998 and expanded and enlarged in 2006 to meet the continuing demand for quality child care, The Hardy County Child Care Center stands as an innovative industry-driven program after which other centers around the state and the country model their own programs. The Hardy County Child Care Center provides comprehensive childcare for infants from six weeks old to Pre-K, plus wrap-around before and after-school care for children through fifth grade, as well as summer programs.
Climate
West Virginia’s Hardy County experiences all four seasons in all their glory. Revel in the 157 sunny days and enjoy endless outdoor adventures and balmy days with a summer high temperature that’s around 84 degrees. Enjoy the rich fall foliage as it gives way to crisp winter weather and the nearby ski slopes of Snowshoe and Canaan Valley before the spring returns.
Recreation Opportunities
Life here can be quiet in Hardy County—surrounded by the solitude of undisturbed countryside—or bustling with the warm, small-town activity of Moorefield, the county seat, Wardensville and Mathias. The small-town flavor is spiced with modern town parks that feature swimming pools, playing fields, volleyball, basketball, tennis courts, a golf course, and sheltered picnic areas.
Step outside into the surrounding area and the richness of leisure-time opportunity—Lost River State Park, the George Washington National Forest, the Trout Pond Recreation Area, and Rock Cliff Lake. Residents and visitors alike look to the rivers for the finest fishing in the East. In spring, canoeing and kayaking dominate, while hunting takes precedence in autumn. Hardy County is home to one of the largest white tail deer populations in West Virginia. For winter sports, Snowshoe and Canaan Valley offer some of the best skiing in the Mid-Atlantic area and are just a short drive away.
The Potomac Eagle excursion train runs on weekends during the summer and daily for the autumn-color season. Traveling out of Romney and through a scenic section of the South Branch Valley known as “The Trough,” the excursion train takes its name from the American bald eagles that are commonly sighted around the river by train passengers.
Location
Set in the beautiful Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, Hardy County offers easy access to interstate highways and a short drive to major metropolitan areas.
With I-81 & I-66 to the east and I-79 to the west, the County is easily accessible via major freight carriers. U.S. Route 220 and State Routes 55 and 259 transverse throughout the County.
The new section of 4-lane Corridor H offers direct interstate access from Hardy County to eastern markets via I-81 and I-66, and western access into central West Virginia by I-79.
Local air service is only 15 minutes from Moorefield, and Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., is a near one-and-a-half-hour drive.
In addition to its abundance of natural beauty, the region is grounded with excellent health care and quality schools, all within a region where the cost of living is 10% lower than the national average, with especially affordable housing choices.
In addition to all the arts and culture of Washington, D.C., Moorefield has its own historical treasure on North Main Street. McCoy’s Grand Theater and Museum, formerly a movie house, has been beautifully restored and is now the showcase for community theater productions, children’s theater and other local events.
Emergency Services
EMERGENCY ONLY – 9-1-1
West Virginia State Police – 304-538-2925
Ambulance
- Mathias – 304-897-5586
- Moorefield – 304-530-0076
- Wardensville – 304-874-3733
Fire
- Mathias – 304-897-5586
- Moorefield – 304-530-2928
- Wardensville – 304-874-3222
Sheriff
- Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – 304-530-5222
- Other times (non-emergency) – 304-530-0291
Hardy County Emergency Operations Center – 304-530-0291