Kingwood at a glance.
Kingwood is the county seat of Preston County. The Preston County Economic Development Authority's Kingwood profile says it was founded in 1811 and chartered in 1853, and that it is home to the county's first organized Court of Quarter Sessions.
What the area is known for:
- The Preston County Buckwheat Festival, hosted each year in Kingwood by the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department (PCEDA).
- WV Northern Rail-Trail — Kingwood is one end of this rail-trail for walking, biking and cross-country skiing (PCEDA).
- The Cheat River — local fishing and whitewater rafting (PCEDA).
- McGrew House, a local museum and landmark, and Preston Memorial Hospital, both in Kingwood (PCEDA).
Local fundamentals, street-level differences.
I work in-town homes, edge-of-town acreage, land and commercial in and around Kingwood. After nine years of full-time work in this market, my development background adds a second lens on access, utilities, wells and septic, and what a site can be used for.
Utilities: who serves Kingwood.
Water and sewer. The City of Kingwood runs Kingwood Water Works and Kingwood Sanitary Sewer, plus garbage and recycling service. See the City's sanitary sewer page for sewer details.
Septic and private wells. Outside public service, the Preston County Health Department covers septic permits and well-water testing.
Electric and gas. Mon Power, a FirstEnergy company, provides electric service in Preston County. Mountaineer Gas lists Kingwood among the communities in its service tariff.
Internet.
Prodigi (Digital Connections, Inc.) is a local fiber-to-the-home provider that has been building its network in Preston County since 2012 and serves much of the county (WVU report). Frontier also lists service in Kingwood. See what's reported at any address on the FCC National Broadband Map.
Building and permits.
- City of Kingwood — the City explains how to get a building permit and publishes its own zoning ordinance.
- Preston County Health Department — septic and well permits.
- Preston County — the county's floodplain page covers the floodplain ordinance and permit information.
Flood zones: how to check an address.
Look up the mapped flood zone for an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center or the WV Flood Tool. Preston County's floodplain page collects the county's floodplain ordinance, elevation-certificate form and flood-safety resources, and FloodSmart is FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program site.
Soils.
The USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey is the official free tool for mapped soil information on a specific parcel. Septic and well-water questions go through the Preston County Health Department.
Schools.
Public schools in Kingwood are run by Preston County Schools. The state's WVEIS School Directory lists every Preston County school.
Recent Kingwood closings.
Part of 72+ closed transactions across North Central West Virginia since 2018 — including Albright, Masontown, Tunnelton, and the surrounding county.
In their words.
"This was our first real estate transaction with Brandon and because of his professionalism, advocacy, and expertise hopefully not our last… Brandon was attentive to detail, solution-oriented, and made sure everything was done right on our end."Verified client — Preston County, WV · Zillow review
"Answered all questions with extreme knowledge of the selling process… Our home was under contract in 8 days with an easy and pleasant sale."bsgwv — Seller · June 2026 · Zillow review
Making a move in Kingwood?
Whether you're selling, buying your first place, or looking at land or commercial space along the corridor — start with a conversation.
Is Kingwood on public water and sewer?
The City of Kingwood runs its own water and sewer utilities. Properties outside service areas use private wells and septic, which go through the Preston County Health Department.
What internet is available in Kingwood?
Prodigi, a local fiber-to-the-home provider, has been building in Preston County since 2012, and Frontier also lists service in Kingwood. The FCC National Broadband Map shows what's reported at a specific address.
How do I find out if a property is in a flood zone?
Search the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or the WV Flood Tool. Preston County's floodplain page has the county ordinance and resources.
Do I need a permit to build or renovate in Kingwood?
The City of Kingwood explains how to get a building permit, and the Preston County Health Department handles septic and well permits.
Which schools serve Kingwood?
Public schools are run by Preston County Schools; the state's school directory lists them all.
Do you work with first-time buyers?
Yes. First-time purchases are a regular part of my Kingwood work, with lender contacts and a walk-through of the process at every step.