Pea Ridge gets the best of both worlds: Ohio and West Virginia. Sitting just two miles from the Ohio River that separates the two states, Pea Ridge gives its residents a nature experience unlike any other, with the Beech Fork State Park on one side and the Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area on another.
Pea Ridge is a town of around 6,600 residents spread into a 2
Pea Ridge gets the best of both worlds: Ohio and West Virginia. Sitting just two miles from the Ohio River that separates the two states, Pea Ridge gives its residents a nature experience unlike any other, with the Beech Fork State Park on one side and the Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area on another.
Pea Ridge is a town of around 6,600 residents spread into a 2.3 square mile area. This means that it's pretty tightly packed -- almost 3,000 people per mile. But it comes with a big trade off! Pea Ridge is located in the middle of thousands of square miles of uninhabited wilderness. Sure, there are small towns spread in between, but other than, miles and miles of empty wilderness lie in all directions. Pea Ridge really is a forest village when you look at it like that.
Whether you live near the country club or on the city limits, you'll find that Pea Ridge has its own way of running the show. The town is so small in land area that people are pretty tightly packed, but on the bright side, there's not much demand for housing. Because the area is so secluded, it can help to have connections within the city before you begin the search.
What are my options?
Whether you're looking to rent or buy, there are plenty of things to choose from. Just over half of people in the area own their homes, which mean there's a large portion of the population choosing to rent. At least a third of the homes are multi-unit structures, which means the remaining homes are detached housing units owned either through real estate companies or independent landlords.
What about renting?
There are plenty of apartments for rent in Pea Ridge as well. Although a good portion of the area is home to long term residents, there is a decent turnover rate of individuals who move around each year, meaning the market for apartment rentals is doing quite well. As an added bonus, the cost of rent in the area is much lower than the state average, meaning it's the more economic option for many people.
Is there a lot of competition?
Not really. Pea Ridge is small and pretty distant from any major cities; the next largest town is Huntington, with Ironville a bit further west than that. Because of its relatively remote location, you have plenty of time to search for a place to live. It does help to have contacts as mentioned earlier, though. Many of the house rentals in the area are owned by private landlords who do not advertise, so it pays to know someone in the know.
Because of its tiny size, Pea Ridge is like one big neighborhood in and of itself. If you were to ask someone about a neighborhood, they'd likely describe it based on landmarks. A lot of people live near the Guyan Country Club and the Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital, but a lot live in the 'dip' of the city limits, around the Helen Lane and Bartow Drive areas. Much of the shopping and industrial areas of the city are around E Pea Ridge Rd.
Pea Ridge is a veritable paradise for the outdoorsman. The Guyandotte River borders the town to the north, providing plentiful boating and fishing opportunities. To the northwest and north lies the Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area, a stretch of several hundred miles of protected lands that provide miles and miles of trails to explore. To the south is the Beech Fork Lake Wildlife Management Area and the Beech Fork State Park, where people regularly visit to camp and spend nights under the stars. There are a few city parks in the area that people enjoy walking and relaxing in for when the great outdoors are too far away.
For shopping, people head over to Huntington or one of the other larger cities. These expeditions tend to be full-day trips because of the distance, which makes 'going to town' a common phrase heard around these parts.
Within the city limits, though, there are plenty of dining options. Nearby Barboursville has several major chains, but Pea Ridge has local staples like Tascali's Decades Pasta and China One.
