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City of Shinnston

40 Main Street
304-592-5631

Mission

The mission of the City of Shinnston is to provide excellent utility, public works, and customer services; to encourage economic development of the City; to insure public safety; and to foster an atmosphere of community involvement.

History :
The settlement of Shinnston dates to the building of Levi Shinn's log house in 1778. The house, which still stands today along US Route 19, is maintained by the Shinnston Historical Association. In 1815, the town was laid out with three streets running parallel with the river and with four crossing streets running at right angles to them. The town was incorporated in 1852 by an act of the Virginia Legislature, as West Virginia did not yet exist as an independent state, and Solomon S. Fleming was elected the first mayor.

A new Charter was secured in 1877 and later revised in 1928 to a Mayor-Council form of government. This model remained in place for 50 years and in 1998 the citizens voted to revise the Charter and adopt a City Manager-Council form of local government. That model was implemented on July 1, 1998 and Shinnston now has its fourth City Manager.