Community Profile

Huntington is a vibrant, energetic city that always has something going on.

As of the 2010 Census, Huntington’s population was 49,138. It is the second largest city in the state. However, it is the hub of the Huntington-Ashland- Ironton metropolitan area, which spans seven counties and three states and has a population of 365,419. The city is home to Marshall University, a major contributor to the heart and soul of the community. You’ll find living in a college city has many perks for the economy and vibrancy of the city.

Huntington’s Cabell Huntington Hospital, St. Mary’s Medical Center and Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine are staples in the medical community. Area retail is focuses around the Huntington Mall, the largest mall in West Virginia, and a healthy downtown retail sector including many boutique shops and eateries along 3rd and 4th avenues. The downtown area is once again a draw for shopping, dining and entertainment, including Pullman Square, a modern town square. The streets are alive with people walking, eating, shopping and biking. Year-round, a variety of festivals and special events draw crowds to Pullman Square, the Big Sandy Superstore Arena and the historic Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center.

Huntington also is known for its expansive park system, the gem of which is Ritter Park. The park, which features a walking path, award-winning playground, tennis courts, amphitheater and PetSafe Dog Park, was recognized by the American Planning Association in 2012 as one America’s 10 Great Public Spaces.

In the hills above Ritter Park is the Huntington Museum of Art. It is the largest art museum between Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Richmond and contains numerous collections, exhibitions, education programs and nature trails on a sprawling, 52-acre campus. The grounds also are home to the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory, West Virginia’s only plant conservatory.