Factories in West Virginia
West Virginia has 1,060 manufacturing establishments employing 48,350 people (Census County Business Patterns, 2023), 0.4% of US manufacturing jobs and the 40th most of any state. The largest industries by employment are vehicles, aircraft and parts, chemicals and primary metals. We track 6 new plant projects here, 1 under construction.
- Establishments
- 1,060
- Census 2023
- Manufacturing jobs
- 48,350
- Census 2023
- In EPA records
- 686
- Active, ECHO
- New plants
- 6
- 1 building
- Sheet
- WV
- Revised
- November 11, 2026
What is made in West Virginia
| Industry (NAICS subsector) | Establishments | Employees | In EPA records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles, aircraft and parts 336 | 34 | 7,675 | 26 |
| Chemicals 325 | 85 | 6,756 | 146 |
| Primary metals 331 | 22 | 4,685 | 42 |
| Wood products 321 | 143 | 4,621 | 56 |
| Plastics and rubber 326 | 46 | 4,525 | 28 |
| Food 311 | 78 | 4,047 | 11 |
| Fabricated metal products 332 | 218 | 4,009 | 102 |
| Glass, cement and stone 327 | 100 | 2,660 | 55 |
| Machinery 333 | 72 | 2,212 | 65 |
| Printing 323 | 73 | 1,481 | 20 |
| Medical devices and other goods 339 | 56 | 1,417 | 14 |
| Furniture 337 | 31 | 1,278 | 18 |
| Computers and electronics 334 | 14 | 967 | 7 |
| Petroleum and coal products 324 | 17 | 649 * | 68 |
| Paper 322 | 8 | 514 | 4 |
| Beverages and tobacco 312 | 37 | 481 | 5 |
| Electrical equipment and appliances 335 | 11 | 274 | 15 |
| Textile products 314 | 12 | 53 | 1 |
| Textile mills 313 | — | — | 2 |
| Apparel 315 | — | — | 1 |
Establishments and employees: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, mid-March employment. * Census flags this figure as having high noise. "In EPA records" counts active facilities in EPA's ECHO database, a subset that excludes plants EPA doesn't regulate.
New plants in West Virginia
| Project | Industry | Status | Announced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nucor Steel West Virginia sheet millNucor Corporation, Apple Grove | Steel and metals | Under construction | $2.7B800 jobs |
| Cabell County intraocular lens plant expansionAlcon, Huntington | Medical devices | Announced | $81M75 jobs |
| Martinsburg strike drone factoryHelsing, Martinsburg | Aerospace and defense | Announced | $50M60 jobs |
| Williamstown electrical infrastructure plant (former Hino facility)PowerFlo Solutions, Williamstown | Electrical equipment | Announced | $20M120 jobs |
| Buffalo powertrain plant expansion (hybrid engines and transaxles)Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, Buffalo | Auto parts | Announced | $453M80 jobs |
| Form Factory 1 (former Weirton Steel site)Form Energy, Weirton | Electrical equipment | Operating(reported) | $760M750 jobs |
Factory pages in West Virginia
10 West Virginia factories have their own page so far: the facilities that report to EPA's Toxics Release Inventory and hold the most detailed federal records. See all 10, grouped by industry.
Questions
What is made in West Virginia?
West Virginia has 1,060 manufacturing establishments employing 48,350 people (Census County Business Patterns, 2023), 0.4% of US manufacturing jobs and the 40th most of any state. The largest industries by employment are vehicles, aircraft and parts, chemicals and primary metals.
How many manufacturers are in West Virginia?
1,060 manufacturing establishments (Census, 2023). EPA's ECHO database lists 686 active manufacturing facilities in West Virginia that it regulates, 212 of which report to the Toxics Release Inventory.
Are new factories being built in West Virginia?
We track 6 large plant projects in West Virginia announced since 2021: 1 under construction, 4 announced, 1 operating.
Can you tour a factory in West Virginia?
Yes: Blenko Glass Visitor Center & Factory, Fiesta Factory Tour, J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works Tour.