city in West Virginia
Honey bee forage in Parkersburg, West Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in West Virginia. Against other West Virginia sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in spring (29th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.9 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.9 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Parkersburg?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 31 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Parkersburg, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Apr 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Soybeans: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Parkersburg
Mostly: South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.17 mi S; open water 0.17 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 89% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Parkersburg ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 66th | 81st | 60th | 57th |
| West Virginia | 83rd | 29th | 97th | 98th |
| Western Allegheny Plateau | 52nd | 21st | 73rd | 94th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Parkersburg: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
North Hills 4 mi · Lubeck 4 mi · Vienna 4 mi · Blennerhassett 5 mi · Mineralwells 6 mi · Kanawha 6 mi
All towns in West Virginia · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Parkersburg (39.2613, -81.5434); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.