Mason County is located on the extreme western edge of central West Virginia, bordered by the Ohio River and bisected by the Great Kanawha River. There is only one bridge in the county to connect the northern part of the county to the southern half. It is located at Point Pleasant where the Kanawha and the Ohio meet. Industry in Mason County is almost nonexistent although it is an excellent location for industrial development. Unemployment has been high in Mason County for several years. Flooding is common on many of the back roads as well as the State and US routes that run along the river valleys.
Hannan Junior Senior High School serves as the hub of its community. There are no incorporated towns south of the river with the exception of Henderson, a town opposite Point Pleasant at the bridge. Hannan is located in the most southern part of the county. Its feeder schools are Ashton Elementary, with a few students coming from Beale Elementary. Vocational training is offered on a limited basis. Morning vocational classes are also available at the county Career Center for those students willing to undertake the fifty mile round trip every day. A small branch library sits on the corner of the campus to serve the community.
Wahama Junior Senior High School is in the northern portion of the county that is adjacent to Pomeroy, Ohio. Vocational classes are offered at the Mason County Career Center both morning and afternoon. Wahama feeder schools are New Haven, Mason Elementary, with an occasional student coming from Point Pleasant.
Point Pleasant High School is in the central portion of the county located on the extreme western edge and shares a campus with the Mason County Career Center. The feeder schools to the high school are Point Pleasant Middle School, Point Pleasant Intermediate School, Roosevelt, Leon and Beale Elementary. Several students also come from Ashton Elementary.
Mason County has received a grant from the SBA to consolidate Mason and New Haven Elementary at New Haven, closing Mason Elementary. Work on this project
will be
completed for the start of the 2006-2007 school year.
Mason County was the first and only county to return a grant of 14.64 million dollars to the SBA after communities across the county fought long and hard to keep small schools.
In March 2004, Mason County passed a construction bond for 12 million dollars and then was given a 13 million grant by the SBA. This will provide renovation and new construction for all three high schools. Currently, Wahama,and Hannan are in reconstruction, while the new Point Pleasant Jr.Sr.high school has started site preparation. Mason County was also awarded another SBA grant to upgrade the Career Center.
This was made possible thanks to citizens working to save community schools along with a board and a superintendent willing to serve children. Congratulations to the children of Mason County.
