Littleton: History on Big Fish Creek

Littleton combines its location on Big Fish Creek with a local history shaped by early settlement, railroads, the oil industry, and historic buildings. If you are planning a stay, you can explore the town through a range of interests: the valley landscape, its transportation and economic history, or its architectural landmarks. These topics give your trip planning a concrete local connection and help you understand Littleton as a destination before choosing a hotel for your stay.

On the Creek, in the Valley, and on US-250

Littleton lies on the banks of Big Fish Creek. The northern and southern hills form the valley through which the main line of the B&O Railroad runs. The town is also on US Highway 250. A bridge locally known as Littleton Bridge carries US-250 over the West Virginia Fork of Fish Creek in Wetzel County. The names help with orientation: Littleton is on Big Fish Creek, while the bridge crosses the West Virginia Fork of Fish Creek. This distinguishes the town’s location and its road connection without conflating the two named waterways.

Settlement History and Historic Buildings

Littleton was named after a family called Little. A Little family settled in Littleton in 1797. This places the early settlement in time and connects it with the history of the town’s name.

Historic buildings include the Exchange Bank Building on Main Street, which dates to around 1910. Under Criterion C for architecture, it is considered potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Our Lady of Assumption Church was built by Father Edward Delahunt in 1870. The construction dates mark different points in history: 1870 for the church and around 1910 for the bank building.

Railroads and Economic Change

The town’s railroad history is also reflected in different ways. Company N was stationed in Littleton, among other places, from 1861 to 1864; its three-year assignment included guarding the B.&O. and North Western Railroads. The town’s history thus includes both the B&O main line running through the valley and a specific, named assignment to guard railroads.

From 1896 to 1906, Littleton experienced a major oil boom. The town served as a supply depot for the oil fields, and laying oil and gas pipelines provided plenty of work during this period. These details describe different aspects of the same economic phase: the oil boom, supplying the fields, and pipeline work. The dates place this local development in the town’s later history, well after the Little family settled there in 1797.

As an additional geographic reference, the end of the Mason-Dixon Line lies about one mile northeast of Littleton.

Discover more destinations: New Martinsville

For the broader travel overview: Wetzel County.