Grant County sits in the rugged Potomac Highlands of eastern West Virginia and was created in 1866 from Hardy County. The county seat, Petersburg, is surrounded by dramatic scenery—caverns, ridges, and forests that draw nature lovers from across the region. Communities such as Mount Storm, Bayard, and Maysville are small, tight-knit towns where the pace of life is slow. Historically, farming, timber, and later natural-gas and tourism shaped its economy. Homes here are largely single-family dwellings—older farmhouses, mid-century cottages, and newer cabin-style homes built for mountain living. The area is distinctly rural; there are no major cities inside the county, though Winchester, VA and Cumberland, MD are roughly 60–70 miles away for larger shopping and medical centers. The typical existing home price ranges between US $180 000–$280 000, while scenic properties or newer cabins near mountain or lakefronts can reach $350 000 +. Land is abundant; raw lots may list from $25 000–$70 000, and new-build costs average $175 000–$275 000 depending on terrain and materials. Grant County offers pure rural tranquility, low density, and access to exceptional outdoor recreation at Smoke Hole Canyon, Dolly Sods, and Mount Storm Lake.