Helvetia, West Virginia

Helvetia is a census-designated place (CDP) in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 59.[3] According to the 2020 census, its population was 38.[4] The isolated community was settled by Swiss starting in 1869, and is known today for maintaining Swiss traditions, food, and folkways.

Helvetia
Census-designated place (CDP)
Helvetia is located in West Virginia
Helvetia
Helvetia
Location within the state of West Virginia
Coordinates: 38°42′21″N 80°12′4″W
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyRandolph
Area
[1]
 • Total1.815 sq mi (4.70 km2)
 • Land1.815 sq mi (4.70 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
[2]
2,280 ft (690 m)
Population
 (2010)[3]
 • Total59
 • Density33/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID2586824[2]
Sign in Helvetia, West Virginia

History
Settled by a group of Swiss and German immigrants who came via Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1869. Later groups arriving from Switzerland and other parts of U.S. boosted 1874 population to 308.
West Virginia Highway Historical Marker for Helvetia

After the end of the Civil War, a group of Swiss and German-speaking immigrants calling themselves the Grütliverein (Grütli Society) formed in Brooklyn, New York. The members agreed that they would all emigrate to another section of the country together when the time was right.

A member of the society named Isler surveyed large swaths of the eastern West Virginia mountains for a Washington-based firm, and reported back to the society on the richness of the country. A committee of six men was assembled, and left Brooklyn by rail on October 15, 1869. They arrived at Clarksburg and began the difficult work of traveling by foot over the mountains.[5]

They reached a plot that was on offer for sale on October 20, and were disappointed by the extreme thickness of the wilderness in this lightly settled and rugged country. The land was very reasonably priced, though, and they had offers of other assistance from the land agents in Clarksburg if they would encourage further settlement in the area. After hearing the report of this exploration, the society members all decided they would go to West Virginia.

Because of the low cost of the land, all of the settlers were able to buy their own tracts, ranging from a small house lot to hundreds of acres. An area of 100 acres (0.40 km2) was set aside at the center of the community and laid off into lots, which were sold to skilled tradesmen as an incentive.

At the beginning of 1871, there were thirty-two people living in the community. A new arrival in that year, C.E. Lutz, became the local land agent and wrote advertisements in English and German for papers across the country extolling the virtues of the settlement. Lutz's methods would later face scrutiny from both American and Swiss authorities, and he would be investigated in 1880 by West Virginia State Senator Joseph J. Woods.[6]

New settlers came from various parts of the United States and Canada, and some immigrated directly from Switzerland.[7] In addition to farmers and herdsmen, many craftsmen and professionals were among the settlers: stonemasons; carpenters; painters; wagon, shoe, watch, hat, and cheese makers; musicians; teachers; ministers; and doctors. By 1874 the community's population had grown to a heady 308,[8] and by 1875 a band and mutual aid society called the Schweizer-Kranken-Unterstützung-Verein (or, the Swiss Health Support Association) had been organized.[9]

During the late 1960s, Eleanor Mailloux and Delores Baggerly worked to attract tourists to the town by highlighting the town's Swiss heritage. They established the Hütte restaurant, collaborated on a community cookbook titled Oppis Guet’s vo Helvetia, and began the public annual Fasnacht celebration. Notably, Helvetia's Fasnacht combines the customs of the traditional Swiss Fasnacht and Sechselaüten.[10]

The Helvetia Village Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[11]

Helvetia is a playable location in the 2018 video game Fallout 76, which is set in the state of West Virginia and is the staging ground of the popular Fasnacht day event in Fallout 76.

Events and festivals
  • Fasnacht, last Saturday before Lent
  • West Virginia Maple Syrup Festival, third Weekend in March
  • Helvetia Ramp Supper, last Saturday in April
  • Follow Your Bliss Festival, weekend after Father's Day
  • Swiss National Holiday, Saturday nearest August 1
  • Helvetia Community Fair, second full weekend in September
  • Thanksgiving Dinner, Fourth Thursday in November
  • Feast of Saint Nicholas Day, Saturday closest to December 5

References
  1. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Helvetia, West Virginia
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  4. Bureau, US Census. "Search Results". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  5. Helvetia: The History of a Swiss Village in the Mountains of West Virginia, retrieved March 21, 2022
  6. Fones-Wolf, Ken; Lewis, Ronald L. (2003). Transnational West Virginia: ethnic communities and economic change, 1840-1940. West Virginia University Press. hdl:2027/heb.08892. ISBN 978-0-937058-76-3.
  7. Partadiredja, Atje (1978). Helvetia, West Virginia : a study of pioneer development and community survival in the Appalachia. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms International.
  8. Sutton, David H (1990). One's own hearth is like gold : a history of Helvetia, West Virginia. New York: Peter Lang. ISBN 0-8204-1246-5.
  9. Fones-Wolf, Ken; Lewis, Ronald L. (2003). Transnational West Virginia: ethnic communities and economic change, 1840-1940. West Virginia University Press. hdl:2027/heb.08892. ISBN 978-0-937058-76-3.
  10. "Helvetia, a Traditional Swiss Village in the Hills of West Virginia". The National Endowment for the Humanities. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  11. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
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