Founded in 1883 as The Mountain Echo, the newspaper was established in Addison (now commonly known as Webster Springs), the county seat of Webster County, West Virginia. It was originally founded by J.N. Wolff and operated under the slogan “We Labor for the Prosperity of the People” before being turned over to B.C. Conrad later that same year. Early in its history, the publication underwent various titular changes and even a brief suspension, at one point publishing under the name State Gazetteer around 1890 before officially solidifying its identity as The Webster Echo. 

For much of the 20th century, The Echo served as the vital “paper of record” for Webster County, documenting the region’s heavy reliance on timber and coal industries while providing essential community news. It became a primary source for local history, notably publishing extensive articles on county pioneers in the late 1960s. In the modern era, the paper was owned and operated by Charles and Kelli Cochran, who were credited with maintaining community journalism in the county for years before transitioning the publication to new ownership. 

In October 2022, The Webster Echo was acquired by HD Media LLC, a Huntington-based company that also owns the Charleston Gazette-Mail and The Herald-Dispatch. This acquisition aimed to modernize the nearly 140-year-old publication, including the establishment of a dedicated website and the addition of new reporting staff. Today, The Echo continues to publish as a weekly newspaper every Wednesday, focusing on local governance, community events, and high school sports like the Webster County Highlanders.