Rio (pronounced RYE-O) is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...

in southern Hampshire County in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

. Rio is located just north of the Hardy County line at the crossroads of Augusta-Ford Hill Road (West Virginia Secondary Route 53) and Delray Road ( West Virginia Route 29) in the North River Valley. According to the 2000 census, the Rio community has a population of 154. The community most likely was named for the nearby North River, ''rio'' meaning "river" in Spanish. According to the official Hampshire County history book, Rio was originally going to be named Oxford, but a hamlet in Doddridge County already carried the name. residents were then going to name the village Richardson, but that name didn't stick either. Ultimately, they decided to name the town after an indigenous landmark to the valley, so they named the town Rio, the Spanish word for river, after North River that runs through the center of town. The Spanish word is pronounced "Ree-Oh," but in the town of Rio, locals and others culturally pronounce the town name as "Rye-Oh." (Hampshire County, West Virginia, 1754-2004, published by the Hampshire County 250th Anniversary Committee) Sitting in North River around Rio is a well-known landmark—The Rio Turtle (also sometimes called Turtle Rock). The rock formation is shaped like a turtle and various residents, over decades, have painted the Rio Turtle to resemble its name, often with a traditional green shell. The Rio Turtle is among the town's most famous natural landmarks.

Historic sites and attractions

* Rio Turtle, 2.5 mi. West of Rio on Augusta-Ford Hill Road (CR 53) *Old Rio Schoolhouse, In Rio on Delray Road (WV Route 29) *Ebenezer Lutheran Church, In Rio on Augusta-Ford Hill Road (CR 53) *God's Pavilion Church, In Rio in Augusta-Ford Hill Road (CR 53) *Rio Fun Fair and Parade @ the Old Schoolhouse, 4 July Weekend

References

External links

{{authority control Unincorporated communities in Hampshire County, West Virginia Unincorporated communities in West Virginia