History

The Town of Hundred is located at the base of the northern panhandle of WV on Route 250. The town is

named after pioneer centurions, Henry and Hannah Church,who lived to be 109 and 106 years old.

Henry was known by the train personnel as “Old Hundred.” They would encourage

B&O rail travelers to wave at “Old Hundred” as they went through the town. The couple always obliged with a friendly wave and that same friendliness is still alive and well with the current residents of Hundred.

In 1886, the Hundred Post office was established in the Keller and Hamilton store, which was opened in

the same year. At that time, “Old” was dropped and the town became known as Hundred. A unique aspect to the name our town is that it’s the only one called Hundred in the United States. During that year,

D. Franklin and Sons opened a store, T. Benson Hamilton built the first home, and the first gas well was drilled. Hundred was home to Pittsburgh and West Virginia Gas Station, Manufacturer’s Light and Heat

Company, Null and Moorehead Gas Station, the Round Bottom Gasoline Plant and Carnegie Gas Station. The population in 1912 was around 850 people. Currently there is a little below 300. The Bank or Hundred was established in 1903. The Hundred Fire Department was started back in 1917, The first Fire Chief was Presley Minor, The Hundred Volunteer Fire Department was then Chartered in 1956. The Hundred Police Department was also established in 1917 and the first Fire Chief Presley Minor was also the first Police Chief. The town of Hundred began its charter in 1894 and continues today. The town celebrated 125 years as a town in July 2019. In the 125 years of our charter, the town has had two major floods, which left the town devastated.

Fortunately, with the townspeople and many volunteers, the town has recovered and is continuing to work

hard to restore back to the quaint small town it always has been.