A History of Sissonville, WV: Drenched, Torched, and Speaking Freely!

Y’all I am tired, I am plum tuckered… So enjoy this crap about Sissonville:

Nestled along the Pocatalico River in Kanawha County, Sissonville’s story is a rollicking tale of pioneers, disasters, and community grit—with a dash of modern controversy thrown in for spice. Let’s journey through time with this small but feisty Appalachian town.

Chapter 1: The Pioneers and the Name Game (1802–1800s)

Sissonville’s origin story begins with a log cabin and a grist mill. In 1802, a man named Johnson became the first settler north of Fort Lee (now Charleston), building his home near Tuppers Creek. But the town’s name comes from John Sisson, a landowner whose surname stuck to the townsite like syrup on a biscuit. Early life here revolved around farming and milling, with the community eventually expanding into smaller hamlets like Cicerone, Millertown, and Guthrie.

The area’s original boundaries were so fuzzy that even today, folks debate what counts as “Sissonville”

Chapter 2: When the River Roared (1967–2000)

If Sissonville had a nemesis, it’d be water. The town endured four National Disaster floods between 1967 and 2000, each more dramatic than the last. The 2000 flood turned deadly when a Charleston Fire Department rescue boat capsized in the 2900 Block of Sissonville Drive, claiming three lives. The floods even forced the closure of Bonham Elementary School.

Chapter 3: Boom! (2012 Gas Pipeline Explosion)

On December 11, 2012, Sissonville made headlines when a 26-inch natural gas pipeline erupted near Route 21 and Derricks Creek Road. The explosion carved an 800-foot scar into Interstate 77, melted homes, and sent a wall of flame skyward. Miraculously, no one died—though one resident had to be rescued from behind her house.

Chapter 4: The Rebel Student (2001)

In 2001, Sissonville High School student Katie Sierra became a national symbol of teen rebellion. She was suspended for distributing anti-war flyers opposing the Afghanistan bombing—a move the school claimed violated club policies. The case sparked debates about free speech, proving that even small towns can stage big drama.

Chapter 5: Heroes and Spark Plugs

Amid the chaos, Sissonville bred its share of legends. Thomas K. Johnson co-founded the Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department in 1961, serving for over 35 years as chief. Today, the department hosts West Virginia’s largest public safety training event, drawing responders from nine states.

Economically, the town thrives on spark plugs—literally. The Niterra factory (formerly NGK) employs over 400 locals, churning out oxygen sensors and spark plugs. Who knew fiery explosions and fiery engines would both shape Sissonville’s fate?

Epilogue: A Town of Stories

Today, Sissonville’s population hovers around 2,700–4,000, depending on who’s counting. It’s a place where retirees swap flood tales over coffee, and the Sissonville Historical Society guards photo albums like dragon hoards.

From log cabins to pipeline fires, Sissonville’s history is anything but quiet. For those who stay, it’s home—a town where every pothole has a story, and every story is drenched in Appalachian spirit.

4-22-2025 @ 11pm
https://youtu.be/zgTvEJ7YE9A

Visibility: Cloudy

*GPS Coordinate Data Provided on bottom left corner with date and speed*

Destinations in West Virginia by appearance:
South Charleston
Dunbar
Nitro
Charleston – US119/Corridor G – West Side (2:09:00) – Downtown (2:52:00)
Sissonville (3:26:00)

https://noggy.org – The Noggy.Net
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570980376051 – my Facebook
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt53MMb1R6eOf49jw7LQkPw – my YouTube
https://venmo.com/noggynet – my Venmo

Listen while you ride: My Spotify Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5FI2WfzKqFIz5dD0BOA1iw?si=4f12084e12b247ec