Morgantown
Around Morgantown
Metro area · West Virginia · 142k people
Morgantown
Where the hills meet the river and the Mountaineers never quit.
WVU BlueOld Gold
Welcome to Morgantown, where the mountains meet the river and the Mountaineer spirit runs deep. Whether you're here for school, work, or the outdoors, you'll find a friendly community with plenty to explore.
Clubs for Morgantown
No clubs for Morgantown yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Morgantown. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Morgantown. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- WVU Campus (Milan Puskar Stadium & WVU Coliseum) Home of the Mountaineers, with iconic football and basketball venues.
- Monongahela River Flows through downtown; riverfront parks and trails line its banks.
- Cheat Lake Popular for boating, fishing, and lakeside recreation.
- Coopers Rock State Forest Known for its overlook of the Cheat River gorge and hiking trails.
- Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park Downtown park along the river with a walking trail and amphitheater.
- Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) A one-of-a-kind automated people mover connecting campus and downtown.
- Outdoors Hiking at Coopers Rock State Forest
- Outdoors Biking or walking the Caperton Trail
- With kids West Virginia Botanic Garden
- With kids Children's Discovery Museum of West Virginia
- Evenings Bar-hopping on High Street
- Evenings Live music at local venues
- Locals love Hiking trails
- Locals love Riverfront parks
Through the year
- WVU Football Saturdays Fall Home games at Milan Puskar Stadium draw the whole town.
- Morgantown Farmers Market Saturdays, May–October Weekly market with local produce, crafts, and food.
- Preston County Buckwheat Festival September County fair in Kingwood with rides, food, and parades.
- Morgantown Half Marathon Fall Road race through town and along the river.
Morgantown has four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Spring and fall are the most pleasant for outdoor activities. Best: Spring and fall are the most pleasant for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “Eers”
- Short for Mountaineers, the WVU teams.
- “Holler”
- A small valley or hollow.
- “Crik”
- Creek.
- “Yinz”
- You all (Pittsburgh influence).
Getaways
- Pittsburgh, PA City life, museums, and professional sports.
- Elkins, WV Mountain scenery and the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad.
- Wheeling, WV Historic downtown and the Capitol Theatre.
- Fairmont, WV Small-town charm along the Tygart Valley River.
Local flavour
Teams
- West Virginia Mountaineers NCAA Division I
Also rooting for West Virginia Mountaineers (NCAA Division I – football, basketball, etc.), Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL – many locals follow from nearby), Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB – some locals follow)
Eat and drink
- Pepperoni rolls State staple invented in WV; a soft roll with pepperoni baked inside, often eaten with mustard.
- West Virginia hot dog Hot dog topped with chili, coleslaw, and onions – a regional style.
- Ramps Wild leeks foraged in the mountains, celebrated in spring festivals and cooked into dishes.
Where people go
- Monongahela River The river running through town, with walking trails and kayaking.
- WVU campus and downtown The university anchors the city, with historic buildings and a lively downtown.
- Cheat Lake A large reservoir just east of town, popular for boating and fishing.
- Country roads and hollers The surrounding Appalachian hollows and winding mountain roads.
Heritage and traditions
Morgantown is proud of its Appalachian heritage, home to West Virginia University, and the scenic beauty of the Monongahela River and Cheat Lake.
This time of year in Morgantown
- WVU Football Saturdays Fall Fall Saturdays are game days, with tailgating, gold and blue everywhere, and the 'Country Roads' singalong.
- Buckwheat Festival Fall A late September/early October festival in Kingwood with parades, rides, and buckwheat pancakes.
- Mountaineer Week October A week-long WVU homecoming celebration with a parade, pep rallies, and the football game.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to do something
Festivals
- Mountaineer Week October A week-long WVU homecoming celebration with a parade, pep rallies, and the football game.
- Morgantown Pride June An annual LGBTQ+ celebration with a parade, vendors, and community events.
Landmarks with a story
- Woodburn Hall WVU's oldest building, dating to 1876, now a classroom and office building with a distinctive clock tower.
- Metropolitan Theatre A 1924 movie palace in downtown Morgantown, now a performing arts venue hosting concerts and films.
- Trinity Episcopal Church A historic church in downtown Morgantown with Gothic Revival architecture and a long community presence.
- Monongalia County Courthouse A classic courthouse building, the seat of county government, with a clock tower and local historical significance.
Food traditions
- Buckwheat pancakes A Preston County tradition, celebrated at the annual Buckwheat Festival, where locals serve buckwheat pancakes with sausage and syrup.
- Morel mushroom hunting In spring, families head to the woods to forage for morels, a prized local delicacy often fried in butter.
- Apple butter making A fall tradition of slow-cooking apples in copper kettles, often at community gatherings or church fundraisers.
- Pawpaw fruit A native fruit foraged in late summer, used in ice cream, breads, and other treats, with a tropical flavor.
Music and arts
- Morgantown Symphony Orchestra A professional orchestra performing classical and pops concerts at the Metropolitan Theatre.
- Bluegrass and old-time music A strong Appalachian music tradition with local jams, festivals, and venues featuring banjo, fiddle, and guitar.
- WVU College of Creative Arts The university's arts programs bring theater, dance, and music performances to the community.
- Monongalia Arts Center A community arts hub in a historic building, offering exhibitions, classes, and cultural events.
A little history
- 1785 Morgantown founded by Zackquill Morgan
- 1867 West Virginia University established
- 1975 Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) opened
- 1880s-1900s Glass industry boom in the late 19th century
Rivalries
- WVU vs. Pitt The Backyard Brawl – a historic football rivalry.
- WVU vs. Marshall In-state bragging rights in football and basketball.
- WVU vs. Virginia Tech A passionate rivalry when the teams meet.
- Game day WVU football tailgating
- Game day Country Roads singalong
- Outdoors Fishing for bass in Cheat Lake
- Outdoors Hunting for morels in spring
- With kids Core Arboretum
- With kids WVU Planetarium
Appalachian English with a mix of Southern and Midland features. Locals often say 'y'all' and 'fixin' to,' and use 'holler' for a hollow or valley. The accent is generally rhotic, with a drawl that can be more pronounced in rural areas.
Only here
- The PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) – a driverless, on-demand transit system that's the only one of its kind in the world.
- The WVU Mountaineer mascot, who fires a musket at football games – a beloved and unique tradition.
- The Preston County Buckwheat Festival, a quirky celebration of buckwheat with a carnival and pancake breakfasts.
- The Cheat River, named for its 'cheating' course through the mountains – a favorite for whitewater rafting.
New here? A few tips
- Expect cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers; dress in layers and be ready for sudden weather changes.
- Traffic can be heavy on WVU football game days; plan ahead and consider using the PRT.
- Learn to say 'MOR-gan-town' with a hard 'g' – it's a local point of pride.
- Try a pepperoni roll from a local bakery – it's the ultimate WV snack.
- Hike to Coopers Rock for a stunning view of the Cheat River gorge.
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Nearby
Every areaFairmontWest VirginiaWhere the hills hold the warmth of home.WaynesburgPennsylvaniaWhere the hills hold stories and the people know your name.ClarksburgWest VirginiaWhere the hills meet the sky.Garrett CountyMarylandWhere Maryland meets the mountains.BuckhannonWest VirginiaWhere the hills echo with history.New MartinsvilleWest VirginiaWhere the river bends and the hills roll on.ElkinsWest VirginiaWhere the mountains whisperWheelingWest VirginiaWhere the river bends and the hills hold stories.
Morgantown, WV. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.