Terra Alta

History of Terra Alta

The Terra Alta community was founded in 1853 and is renowned as the highest point along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, sitting at an elevation of 2,582 feet above sea level. Initially called “Cranberry” and later “Cranberry Summit” due to its proximity to cranberry glades, this half-mile city holds a distinguished place as one of the oldest towns on the B & O Railroad System. Historically acclaimed as “The Jewel of the Alleghenies,” Terra Alta boasts a rich heritage.

Terra Alta Today: What Makes Us Unique

Terra Alta’s scenic beauty is a hidden treasure. The Community Park, filled with exceptional amenities, including a playground and picnic tables, welcomes families and residents. A beautiful, scenic walking trail from the TA/EP School grounds winds through the park. The spacious park is an ideal setting for group gatherings and celebrations.

Terra Alta/East Preston School

Terra Alta offers top-notch learning for students in Pre-K through Grade 8. The nurturing staff guides each student on an educational journey personalized to interests and needs. A wide variety of activities include music programs, sports, and science and social studies fairs. Terra Alta residents love supporting various youth sports on the weekends throughout the year.

Alpine Lake Resort

Serene Alpine Lake covers nearly 2,000 acres of wooded land and 35 miles of roads, giving easy access to 2,300 lots and amenities. Alpine Lake Resort, complete with 35 gorgeous rooms, lake access, private homes, dining and an 18-hole golf course, is special to those in Preston County. Optimal lake and pool activity, cabin rentals for lounging and multiple dining options mean you never really have to leave!

Terra Alta Public Library

The cherished library has moved multiple times, growing along the way. Not only meeting informational and educational needs, the public library offers technology resources and services to sustain lifelong learners and engage readers of all ages.

Terra Alta Senior Center

As one of Preston County Senior Citizens, Inc., managed properties, Terra Alta Senior Center offers individuals 60+ years of age a resource for healthy activities, camaraderie and programming for health, medical and financial needs.

Ball Auction

Terra Alta’s passion for auctions and special treasures is displayed through the many local auctions. Ball Auction holds auctions every Saturday throughout the year.

Old Fashion July 4th in the Park

Come together to celebrate the Fourth of July in style at Terra Alta Community Park! Local vendors, live music, food trucks, games and fireworks top off the night.

The Terra Alta Volunteer Fire Department hosts the oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration in West Virginia. They have a carnival as well as other events around the Fourth.

High Ground Brewing

The family-owned brewery opened in 2019 and offers a wide array of craft beers across West Virginia. The public taproom is open to all, including kids and dogs. Seasonal food trucks and events fill the calendar for year-round fun.

Cranesville Swamp

The unique weather elements of West Virginia have created a breathtaking and rare landscape. The climactic elements have produced a natural occurrence, “frost pocket,” an area where the hills capture moisture and cold air, creating a landscape resembling the environment found further north in Canada. Cranesville Swamp is one of the coolest and soggiest spots in West Virginia. Beautiful nature, wildlife and access to trails offer the perfect learning experience, with stunning picture-perfect moments along the way.

Population

Population	2000	2010	2025	2030
Terra Alta	1,456	1,477	1,442	1,430

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Population by Age

Population	2025
0-4	83
5-9	84
10-14	93
15-19	77
20-24	64
25-29	73
30-34	111
35-39	62
40-44	92
45-49	70
50-54	79
55-59	111
60-64	98
65-69	122
70-74	82
75-79	69
80-84	44
85+	28
18+	1,129
Median Age	44

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Population by Race

Terra Alta	2025
Total	1,442.00
White Alone	95.42%
Black Alone	0.62%
American Indian Alone	0.21%
Asian Alone	0.07%
Pacific Islander Alone	0%
Some Other Race	0.55%
Two or More Races	3.12%
Hispanic Origin	1.32%
Diversity Index	11.20

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Growth Rate

Terra Alta	2025 - 2030
Population	-0.17%
Households	0.19%
Families	0.00%
Median Household Income	2%
Per Capita Income	3%

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Housing

Households

Population	2000	2010	2025	2030
Households	596	610	615	621
Housing Units	690	700	735	739
Owner Occupied Units			455	434
Renter Occupied Units			160	187
Vacant Units			120	118

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Home Value

Terra Alta	2025	2030
Median Home Value	$123,798	$170,313
Average Home Value	$161,610	$215,657
<$50,000	71	63
$50,000 - $99,999	107	75
$100,000 - $149,999	77	53
$150,000 - $199,999	71	54
$200,000 - $249,999	36	54
$250,000 - $299,999	36	43
$300,000 - $399,999	38	32
$400,000 - $499,999	3	13
$500,000 - $749,999	15	44
$1,000,000 +	0	0

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Housing Year Built

Year Range	Houses Built
2010 or Later	38
2000-2009	46
1990-1999	6
1980-1989	62
1970-1979	162
1960-1969	134
1950-1959	46
1940-1949	37
1939 or Before	240

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Income

Terra Alta	2025	2030
Median Household	$50,206	$55,188
Average Household	$60,385	$67,673
Per Capita	$25,760	$29,395

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Household Income

Terra Alta	2025
<$15,000	112
$15,000 - $24,999	50
$25,000 - $34,999	74
$35,000 - $49,999	70
$50,000 - $74,999	127
$75,000 - $99,999	71
$100,000 - $149,999	70
$150,000 - $199,999	29
$200,000+	12

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Employees

Commute

Category	Commuters
Workers 16+	812
In-County Residents	368
Out-of-County Residents	65
Drive Alone	623
Carpooled	133
Public Transport	2
Work at Home	30
Motorcycle	0
Bicycle	0
Walked	21
Other	3
Less than 5 minutes	79
5-9 minutes	72
10-14 minutes	136
15-19 minutes	49
20-24 minutes	125
25-29 minutes	72
30-34 minutes	125
35-39 minutes	3
40-44 minutes	13
45-59 minutes	41
60-89 minutes	43
90+ minutes	24
Average Travel Time	26

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Employees by NAICS

Category	Number
Total Employees	403
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt	2
Mining	0
Utilities	4
Construction	14
Manufacturing	8
Wholesale Trade	3

Retail Trade	106
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers	5
Furn & Home Furnish Str	42
Electronics & Appl Store	0
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip	2
Food & Beverage Stores	34
Health/Pers Care Stores	7
Gasoline Stations	4
Clothing/Accessory Store	0
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music	2
General Merchandise Str	10

Transportation/Warehouse	7
Information	6

Finance & Insurance	15
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn	12
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv	0
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other	3

Real Estate/Rent/Leasing	3
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv	30
Legal Services	0
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises	0
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt	2
Educational Services	88
HealthCare/Social Assist	32
Arts/Entertainment/Rec	5

Accommodation/Food Srvcs	21
Accommodation	0
Food Srv/Drinking Places	21

Other Srv excl Pub Admin	24
Auto Repair/Maintenance	2
Public Administration Emp	33

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Educational Attainment (25+)

Terra Alta	2025
<9th Grade	34
Some High School	118
GED	80
Graduated High School	424
Some College/No Degree	164
Associates Degree	70
Bachelor's Degree	93
Graduate Degree	58

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Businesses

Businesses by NAICS

Category	Number
Total Businesses	65
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus	1
Mining Bus	0
Utilities Bus	2
Construction Bus	2
Manufacturing Bus	2
Wholesale Trade Bus	1

Retail Trade Bus	14
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers Bus	2
Furn & Home Furnish Str Bus	2
Electronics & Appl Store Bus	0
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip Bus	1
Food & Beverage Stores Bus	4
Health/Pers Care Stores Bus	1
Gasoline Stations Bus	1
Clothing/Accessory Store Bus	0
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music Bus	1
General Merchandise Str Bus	2

Transportation/Warehouse Bus	1
Information Bus	2

Finance & Insurance Bus	3
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn Bus	1
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv Bus	0
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other Bus	2

Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus	2
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus	6
Legal Services Bus	0
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus	0
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus	1
Educational Services Bus	2
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus	3
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus	2

Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus	4
Accommodation Bus	0
Food Srv/Drinking Places Bus	4

Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus	11
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus	1
Public Administration Bus	4

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30