Downtown Wheeling Beyond Marketing January 19, 2021 Downtown Wheeling is the center of the business district and is located on the banks of the Ohio River. While much of Downtown is commercially focused, there are some residences, predominantly apartments and lofts. It is steeped in history as the birthplace and first capital of the state of West Virginia. The city’s lasting and ever evolving character is retained in the unique architectural gems, many of which have been creatively repurposed for modern uses.