From Fort Boreman in Parkersburg, visitors can see how close the two cities really are. “City and State lines do make a difference technically, but usually the people who are the heart and soul of both communities come together as one,” said Nancy Miller, owner of Miller Prosthetic and Orthotics. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

The Mid-Ohio Valley is more than just a single city. It is more than two cities; in fact it contains cities from two different states. Two cities in particular are Parkersburg and Belpre. One might ask what connects these two cities other than a bridge? The answer is the people.

“This is my home,” said Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz.

“I have lived in the Mid-Ohio Valley my whole life. I grew up here, my kids grew up here and now my grandkids are growing up here,” he said.

The bond between the Belpre and Parkersburg communities run strong like a root system; a little soil may separate each root, but they all make up the same ecosystem.

“When it comes to the Mid-Ohio Valley, we are one,” said Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce.

The Parkersburg-Belpre highway bridge is divided in the middle, showing where the West Virginia and Ohio state lines end. The bridge connects downtown Parkersburg with Main Street and Washington Boulevard in Belpre. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

Joyce said the two cities are always trying to help and support each other where they can.

“We can always call on one another,” said Joyce.

Lorentz said that in many ways, although Marietta is Belpre’s sister city, they are closer neighbors with Parkersburg.

“Our city offices, police and sheriff departments, fire departments, ambulance services and businesses all work well together, which helps everyone in the long run,” said Joyce.

“I can look out my window at work and see Belpre,” said Jill Parsons, director of the Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The Parkersburg Belpre Bridge from Point Park making the distance between the two cities a little shorter. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

Parsons pointed out that due to proximity, it not uncommon to find people who live in Parkersburg and work in Belpre, or vice versa.

“We are one general community,” Parsons said.

Parsons said the Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Belpre Chamber of Commerce share many of the same members.

The interactions don’t stop there.

Angie Beck, owner of Boxers Bed and Biscuits, said that even though the company has always called Ohio home, roughly 70 percent of its clients, most of whom are natives of Parkersburg and Vienna, travel across the bridge to do business with them in Belpre.

The former B&O railroad bridge, now CSX, connects through Parkersburg and Belpre. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

“More than half of our 40 employees reside in West Virginia and make the short, two-minute commute across the river to do what they love most — taking care of pets,” she said.

Pickering Associates, located in Parkersburg, is very active in both communities.

“When we come together to work on projects or new city developments it has never been one side or the other,” said Jessie Henton, marketing coordinator.

Henton said Parkersburg and Belpre are like one big community.

“We are very fortunate to receive such great support from each city,” she said.

Another business owner, Nancy Miller with Miller Prosthetic and Orthotics said she has always considered the Belpre, Parkersburg and the other surrounding small hometowns as one region.

The Millers opened their first Prosthetic & Orthotic Facility on Dudley Avenue in Parkersburg in 2013.

“When we needed to expand, we opened a second facility across the river near the Farson and Route 7 intersection in Belpre,” she said.

Although the offices are only 10 minutes apart, the Millers chose to keep both locations open.

“We are involved in both the Belpre and MOV Chamber of commerce, and many organizations on both sides of the river, such as the Parkersburg Chapter of the Ambucs and the Prosthetic Users Group that meets monthly in Belpre,” she said.

Alvin Phillips, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley, is just another example of how often the cities come together as one. Habitat for Humanity, which is located in Wood County, also serves Washington County.

“Our first home in Belpre was finished in July of 2018,” Phillips said.

More homes are expected to be built in Belpre.

Phillips said that many of their volunteers and donors who work together come from Parkersburg and Belpre.

“Commerce that the two cities share is important to everyone,” he said. “When our neighbors are flourishing we flourish in return.”

“The Mid-Ohio Valley is like one large city made up of multiple small cities,” Phillips said. “The commerce goes back and forth, when one city benefits so does the whole community.”

Downtown PKB collaborates with area business leaders monthly by hosting a “Community Leaders Monthly Meeting” at the Parkersburg office.

“We find value in sharing ideas and collaborating to solve issues at those meetings with area economic development peers including leaders such as Karen Waller, executive director of the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as Sam Tuten, executive director of Marietta Main Street,” said Wendy Shriver, the executive director of Downtown PKB.

Shriver mentioned that some of the other meeting attendees include Lindsey Piersol, Wood County Economic Development director, Rickie Yeager, development director for the City of Parkersburg, Jill Parsons, Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce director and Mark Lewis, director of the Greater Parkersburg CVB.

“We collaborate together between organizations to plan joint ribbon cutting ceremonies/open house celebrations when a new business opens in downtown and is a member of multiple organizations,” she said.

“We share what recourses we have,” Waller said.

Both Waller and Shriver agreed that it is an important goal on each side to help all the local businesses thrive and grow.

“I truly feel like Downtown PKB wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of our peers and the ability to collaborate across the river to get projects and initiatives accomplished,” she said.

The two homecomings are even planned together.

“Call it small hometown pride,” said Lorentz.

After the introductions, at each of the homecomings, several of the surrounding cities mayors gather to light the torch of unity symbolizing the beginning of the annual homecoming.

“We all join each other for festivals, parades and other city events,” said Lorentz. “It is just another of the many ways we support each other.”