Okonoko is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...

. Okonoko is located north of

Levels Level or levels may refer to: Engineering *Level (instrument), a device used to measure true horizontal or relative heights *Spirit level, an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal or vertical *Canal pound or level *Regr ...

on the

Potomac River The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augus ...

at Bright's Hollow. The community's placename is the only one of its kind within the United States. Originally known as Cacaponville on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad because of its proximity to the mouth of the

Little Cacapon River The Little Cacapon River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed August 15, 2011 free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River in the center of Hampshire County, West Virgini ...

, the community's name was changed to Okonoko in the 1850s. In 1890, Okonoko had a permanent population of 46 and had both a

post office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...

and an express office in use on the

railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

. When the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad lost favor as a mode of transportation of people and goods, Okonoko's residents relocated elsewhere for employment. The town's post office closed in 1958 and its mail was routed through nearby Paw Paw. Today, Okonoko consists of several residences that date from the start of the 20th century which are now used as second vacation homes. Okonoko has become a popular recreational area for hunting, fishing, and boating on the Potomac River. Okonoko can be reached from Levels by Levels-Okonoko Road (

County Route A county highway (also county road or county route; usually abbreviated CH or CR) is a road in the United States and in the Canadian province of Ontario that is designated and/or maintained by the county highway department. Route numbering can ...

5/6) or Bright's Hollow Road (County Route 5/5) and from Little Cacapon by Okonoko-Little Cacapon Road (County Route 2/7).

References

External links

* Unincorporated communities in Hampshire County, West Virginia Unincorporated communities in West Virginia Baltimore and Ohio Railroad West Virginia populated places on the Potomac River {{HampshireCountyWV-geo-stub