Big Sandy is located at the junction of State Highway 155, U.S. Highway 80, and Farm Road 2911 in Upshur County. Big Sandy was established in the early 1870s, and a post office was constructed in 1875. By 1885 the community had an estimated population of 500, a school, churches, stores and saloons, and by 1900, several hotels, restaurants, banks and a weekly newspaper had opened. In the early 1900s, Big Sandy became a regional cotton market.