Berkeley County is located in the
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley () is a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Rid ...
in the
Eastern Panhandle region of
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the ...
in the United States. The county is part of the
Hagerstown-
Martinsburg Martinsburg may refer to:
Places
In the United States:
* Martinsburg, Indiana
*Martinsburg, Iowa
*Sandy Hook, Kentucky, originally incorporated as Martinsburg
*Martinsburg, Missouri
*Martinsburg, Ripley County, Missouri
*Martinsburg, Nebraska
...
,
MD-
WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...
. As of the
2020 census, the
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
population was 122,076,
making it the second-most populous of West Virginia's 55 counties, behind
Kanawha County. The
City of Martinsburg is the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...
.
History
Created on May 15, 1772 by an act of
House of Burgesses from the northern third of
Frederick County when it was part of
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography an ...
, Berkeley County became West Virginia's second-oldest county after it separated from Virginia in 1863, during the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...
. At the time of the county's formation, Berkeley County comprised areas that now are part of present-day
Jefferson and
Morgan Morgan may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Morgan (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Morgan le Fay, a powerful witch in Arthurian legend
* Morgan (surname), a surname of Welsh origin
* Morgan (singer), ...
counties in West Virginia.
Most historians believe the county was named for
Norborne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt (1718–1770),
Colonial Governor of Virginia from 1768 to 1770. West Virginia's ''Blue Book'', for example, indicates Berkeley County was named in his honor. He served as a colonel in England's
North Gloucestershire militia in 1761, and represented that division of the county in Parliament until he was made a peer in 1764. Having incurred heavy gambling debts, he solicited a government appointment and in July 1768, was made
Governor of Virginia. In 1769, he reluctantly dissolved the House of Burgesses after it adopted resolutions opposing parliament's replacement of requisitions with parliamentary taxes as a means of generating revenue and a requirement the colonists send accused criminals to England for trial.
Despite his differences with the House of Burgesses, Berkeley was well respected by the colonists, especially after he sent Parliament letters encouraging it to repeal the taxes. When Parliament refused to rescind them, Governor Berkeley requested to be recalled. In appreciation of his efforts, the colonists erected a monument to his memory which stands in
Williamsburg
Williamsburg may refer to:
Places
*Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum and private foundation in Virginia
*Williamsburg, Brooklyn, neighborhood in New York City
*Williamsburg, former name of Kernville (former town), California
*Williams ...
, and two counties were later named in his honor: Berkeley in present-day West Virginia and
Botetourt in Virginia.
Other historians claim Berkeley County may have been named in honor of Sir
William Berkeley (1610–1677), who was born near
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, graduated from
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
in 1629 and was appointed Governor of Virginia in 1642. He served as Governor until 1652 and was reappointed Governor in 1660. Berkeley presided over the colony during
Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676, and was called back to England the following year.
The first settlers
According to missionary reports, several thousand
Hurons occupied present-day West Virginia, including the
Eastern Panhandle region, during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. During the 17th century, the
Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquois ( or ), officially the Haudenosaunee ( meaning "people of the longhouse"), are an Iroquoian Peoples, Iroquoian-speaking Confederation#Indigenous confederations in North America, confederacy of First Nations in Canada, First Natio ...
(then consisting of the
Mohawk,
Onondaga Onondaga may refer to:
Native American/First Nations
* Onondaga people, a Native American/First Nations people and one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois League
* Onondaga (village), Onondaga settlement and traditional Iroquois capi ...
,
Cayuga Cayuga often refers to:
* Cayuga people, a native tribe to North America, part of the Iroquois Confederacy
* Cayuga language, the language of the Cayuga
Cayuga may also refer to:
Places Canada
* Cayuga, Ontario
United States
* Cayuga, Illinois ...
,
Oneida, and
Seneca tribes) drove the Hurons from the state. The Iroquois Confederacy was headquartered in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
and was not interested in occupying present-day West Virginia. Instead, they used it as a hunting ground during the spring and summer months.
During the early 18th century, West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle region was inhabited by the
Tuscarora. They eventually migrated northward into New York and, in 1712, became the sixth nation to be formally admitted into the Iroquois Confederacy. The Eastern Panhandle region was also used as a hunting ground by several other Indian tribes, including the
Shawnee
The Shawnee are an Algonquian-speaking indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands. In the 17th century they lived in Pennsylvania, and in the 18th century they were in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, with some bands in Kentucky a ...
(then known as the Shawanese) who resided near present-day
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is the most north western independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Winchester wit ...
and
Moorefield, West Virginia
Moorefield is a town and the county seat of Hardy County, West Virginia, United States. It is located at the confluence of the South Branch Potomac River and the South Fork South Branch Potomac River. Moorefield was originally chartered in 1777; ...
until 1754 when they migrated into
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
. The
Mingo
The Mingo people are an Iroquoian group of Native Americans, primarily Seneca and Cayuga, who migrated west from New York to the Ohio Country in the mid-18th century, and their descendants. Some Susquehannock survivors also joined them, and ...
, who resided in the
Tygart Valley
The Tygart Valley River — also known as the Tygart River — is a principal tributary of the Monongahela River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed Aug ...
and along the
Ohio River in present-day West Virginia's
Northern Panhandle
The Northern Panhandle is the northern of the two panhandles in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is a culturally and geographically distinct region of the state. It is the state's northernmost extension, bounded by Ohio and the Ohio Ri ...
region, and the
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacen ...
, who lived in present-day eastern
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...
,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...
and
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacen ...
, but had several autonomous settlements as far south as present-day
Braxton County
Braxton County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,447. The county seat is Sutton. The county was formed in 1836 from parts of Lewis, Kanawha, and Nicholas coun ...
, also used the area as a hunting ground.
Following the
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the st ...
, the Mingo retreated to their homes along the banks of the Ohio River and were rarely seen in the Eastern Panhandle region. Although the French and Indian War was over, many Indians continued to view the British as a threat to their sovereignty and continued to fight them. In the summer of 1763,
Pontiac, an
Ottawa
Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
chief, led raids on key British forts in the Great Lakes region. Shawnee chief Keigh-tugh-qua, also known as
Cornstalk
Cornstalk (c. 1720? – November 10, 1777) was a Shawnee leader in the Ohio Country in the 1760s and 1770s. His name in the Shawnee language was Hokoleskwa. Little is known about his early life. He may have been born in the Province of Pennsylv ...
, led similar attacks on western Virginia settlements, starting with attacks in present-day
Greenbrier County and extending northward to
Berkeley Springs, and into the northern
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley () is a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Rid ...
. By the end of July, Indians had destroyed or captured all British forts west of the Alleghenies except
Fort Detroit
Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or Fort Detroit (1701–1796) was a fort established on the north bank of the Detroit River by the French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and the Italian Alphonse de Tonty in 1701. In the 18th century, Fren ...
,
Fort Pitt, and
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built by New France to protect its interests in North America, specifically control of access between the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, the easternmost of the Great Lakes. The fort is on the river's e ...
. The uprisings were ended on August 6, 1763 when British forces, under the command of Colonel
Henry Bouquet
Henry Bouquet (born Henri Louis Bouquet; 1719 – 2 September 1765) was a Swiss mercenary who rose to prominence in British service during the French and Indian War and Pontiac's War. He is best known for his victory over a Native America ...
, defeated Delaware and Shawnee forces at
Bushy Run
The Battle of Bushy Run was fought on August 5–6, 1763, in western Pennsylvania, between a British column under the command of Colonel Henry Bouquet and a combined force of Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Huron warriors. This action occurred ...
in western Pennsylvania.
During the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of ...
(1775–1783), the Mingo and Shawnee, headquartered at
Chillicothe, allied themselves with the British. In 1777, a party of 350 Wyandots, Shawnees and Mingos, armed by the British, attacked
Fort Henry, near present-day Wheeling. Nearly half of the soldiers manning the fort were killed in the three-day assault. The Indians then left the area celebrating their victory. For the remainder of the war, smaller raiding parties of Mingo, Shawnee, and other Indian tribes terrorized settlers throughout northern and eastern West Virginia. As a result, European settlement throughout present-day West Virginia, including the Eastern Panhandle, came to a virtual standstill until the war's conclusion.
Following the war, the Mingo and Shawnee, once again allied with the losing side, returned to their homes. As the number of settlers in present-day West Virginia began to grow, both the Mingo and Shawnee moved further inland, leaving their traditional hunting ground to the white settlers.
17th-century European explorers
In 1670,
John Lederer
John Lederer was a 17th-century German physician and an explorer of the Appalachian Mountains. He and the members of his party became the first Europeans to crest the Blue Ridge Mountains (1669) and the first to see the Shenandoah Valley and the ...
, a
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
physician and explorer employed by Sir
William Berkeley, colonial governor of Virginia, became the first European to set foot in present-day Berkeley County; their safety was not guaranteed. John Howard and his son also passed through present-day Berkeley County a few years later, and discovered the valley of the
South Branch Potomac River at
Green Spring.
The 18th century
The next known explorer to traverse the county was
John Van Meter
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Seco ...
(1683–1745) in the 1730s. He came across the
Potomac River
The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Datas ...
, at what is now known as
Shepherdstown, then he made his way to the South Branch Potomac River. In 1726,
Morgan Morgan
Colonel Morgan Morgan (November 1, 1688 — November 17, 1766) was an American pioneer. He was thought to have founded the first permanent settlement in present-day West Virginia at Cool Spring Farm.
Biography
Early life
Little direct evidence ...
moved from Delaware and founded the first permanent English settlement of record in West Virginia on Mill Creek near the present-day
Bunker Hill in Berkeley County. The state of West Virginia erected a monument in Bunker Hill commemorating the event, and placed a marker at Morgan's grave, which is located in a cemetery near the park. Morgan Morgan and his wife,
Catherine Garretson, had eight children. His son,
Zackquill Morgan
Colonel Zackquill Morgan was the son of Welsh-born Colonel Morgan Morgan and Catherine Garretson, the first known white settlers in what would become the U.S. state of West Virginia. He was born in Orange est.html" ;"title="ow BerkeleyCounty, ...
, later founded present-day
Morgantown.
In 1730, John Van Meter, with his brother Isaac (1692–1757), secured a patent for at the South Branch Potomac River, much of it in present-day Berkeley County, from Virginia's Colonial Lieutenant Governor
William Gooch. Part of the land was sold the following year to
Hans Yost Heydt, also known as Joist Hite or Jost Hite. In 1732, Heydt (Hite) and fifteen families set out from
York, Pennsylvania
York (Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Yarrick''), known as the White Rose City (after the symbol of the House of York), is the county seat of York County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the south-central region of the state. The populati ...
, passed through present-day Berkeley County, and settled near present-day
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is the most north western independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Winchester wit ...
. In 1744 Isaac Van Meter moved to a site near
Moorefield — then part of
Hampshire County, but now in
Hardy County
Hardy County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,299. Its county seat is Moorefield. The county was created from Hampshire County in 1786 and named for Samuel Hardy, a distinguished Vi ...
(see
Fort Pleasant) — where he was later
scalp
The scalp is the anatomical area bordered by the human face at the front, and by the neck at the sides and back.
Structure
The scalp is usually described as having five layers, which can conveniently be remembered as a mnemonic:
* S: The s ...
ed and killed by Indians. (His brother John settled and died in
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is the most north western independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Winchester wit ...
.)
In 1748,
George Washington, then just sixteen years old, surveyed present-day Berkeley County for
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (22 October 16939 December 1781), was a Scottish peer. He was the son of Thomas Fairfax, 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, and Catherine Colepeper, daughter of Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper.
The on ...
. He later returned to
Bath (Berkeley Springs), West Virginia several times over the next several years with his half-brother,
Lawrence, who was ill and hoped that the warm springs might improve his health. The springs, and their rumored medicinal benefits, attracted numerous Native Americans as well as Europeans to the area.
The 19th century
Berkeley County was reduced in size twice during the 19th century. On January 8, 1801,
Jefferson County Jefferson County may refer to one of several counties or parishes in the United States, all of which are named directly or indirectly after Thomas Jefferson:
*Jefferson County, Alabama
*Jefferson County, Arkansas
*Jefferson County, Colorado
**Jeffe ...
was formed out of the county's eastern section. Then, on February 9, 1820,
Morgan County was formed out of the county's western section and parts of
Hampshire County.
Berkeley County was strategically important to both the North and the South during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...
(from 1861 to 1865). The county, and
Martinsburg Martinsburg may refer to:
Places
In the United States:
* Martinsburg, Indiana
*Martinsburg, Iowa
*Sandy Hook, Kentucky, originally incorporated as Martinsburg
*Martinsburg, Missouri
*Martinsburg, Ripley County, Missouri
*Martinsburg, Nebraska
...
, its seat, lay at the northern edge of the Shenandoah Valley, and Martinsburg was important because the main line of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first common carrier railroad and the oldest railroad in the United States, with its first section opening in 1830. Merchants from Baltimore, which had benefited to some extent from the construction of ...
ran through it. The B&O was valuable to both armies for moving men and materiel. Increasing Martinsburg's strategic value was its proximity to the
United States Arsenal and Armory at
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It is located in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The population was 285 at the 2020 census. Situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, where the U.S. state ...
. Control over Martinsburg changed hands many times during the war, especially prior to the
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of th ...
in July 1863. After Gettysburg, the city remained mostly under Union control.
Most of Berkeley County's residents were loyal to the South during the American Civil War. There were seven companies of soldiers recruited from the county: five for the
Confederate Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighti ...
and two for the
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...
.
Yet it was (then-Colonel) Stonewall Jackson who wrote to Robert E. Lee, "... I regret to say that in Berkeley things are growing worse, and that the threats from Union men are calculated to curb the expression of Southern feeling."
A member of the Stonewall Brigade also wrote, "We left Winchester the first of this week
n June, 1861
N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''.
History
...
and came to Berkeley County, the meanest Abolition hole on the face of the earth, Martinsburg especially."
At least six hundred men from Berkeley County served in either the Confederate Army or the Union Army. When the vote for separation from Confederate Virginia was held, the majority voted for the Union creation of the state of West Virginia.
Berkeley County was also the home of
Maria Isabella "Belle" Boyd, a famous spy for the Confederacy. She was born in Bunker Hill on May 9, 1844, moved to Martinsburg before 1850, and lived there until the outbreak of the war. Her espionage career began on July 4, 1861 when a band of drunken Union soldiers broke into her Martinsburg home intent on raising the
United States flag
The national flag of the United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the ca ...
over the house. As the soldiers forced their way into the house (one account has a soldier pushing Belle's mother), Belle drew a pistol and killed him. A board of inquiry exonerated her actions as justifiable homicide, but sentries were posted around the house and officers kept close track of her activities. She befriended the officers, and at least one of them, Captain Daniel Keily, shared military secrets with her. She conveyed those secrets to Confederate officers via her slave, Eliza Hopewell, who carried the messages in a hollowed-out watch case. She later moved to
Front Royal, Virginia
Front Royal is the only incorporated town in Warren County, Virginia, United States. The population was 15,011 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the county seat of Warren County.
History
The entire Shenandoah Valley incl ...
to live with an aunt. One evening in mid-May, 1862 General
James Shields and his staff conferred in the parlor of the local hotel. Belle hid upstairs and overheard Shields mentioning that he had been ordered east, a move that would reduce the Union Army's strength at Front Royal. Belle reported the news to Colonel
Turner Ashby
Turner Ashby Jr. (October 23, 1828 – June 6, 1862) was an American officer. He was a Confederate cavalry commander in the American Civil War.
In his youth, he organized an informal cavalry company known as the Mountain Rangers, which bec ...
, a Confederate scout. He relayed the information to General
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, considered one of the best-known Confederate commanders, after Robert E. Lee. He played a prominent role in nearl ...
, commander of the Confederate Army. After Jackson took Front Royal on May 23, he penned a note of gratitude to Belle, and named her a Captain and an honorary Aide de Camp. Belle was later arrested by the Union Army for espionage, spent a month in the
Old Capitol Prison
The Old Brick Capitol in Washington, D.C., served as the temporary Capitol of the United States from 1815 to 1819. The building was a private school, a boarding house, and, during the American Civil War, a prison known as the Old Capitol Pris ...
in
Washington, D.C. and was freed in a prisoner exchange. In June 1863, she was arrested again for espionage by the Union Army during a visit to Martinsburg. She remained in the Old Carroll Prison in DC until December 1, 1863 when, suffering from
typhoid
Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...
, she was allowed to travel South to regain her strength. Later, she was running the sea blockade, was captured and under guard to Lt. Samuel Wylde Harding. He fell in love and asked Belle to marry him. She said she would if he helped her get the captains code book and let him escape. Also to join the Confederate army when he could, to all of which he agreed. Belle was escorted and deported to Canada, told if she returned she would be shot. She then went to London, while Samuel left the navy and also went to England. They had a large wedding which the future King and ambassadors attended. While there, she began a stage career and penned her memoirs. After the war, she returned to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
, Divorced Sam, and toured the western states recounting her exploits as a spy during the war. She died in 1900 in
Evansville, Wisconsin. A group from the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) paid for her burial gown and funeral. Belle, her 3rd husband (an actor), and the GAR were in partnership.
Joining West Virginia
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Berkeley and Jefferson counties, both lying on the
Potomac River
The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Datas ...
east of the mountains, with the consent of the
Reorganized Government of Virginia, voted in favor of annexation to West Virginia in 1863. The occupying Federal troops in the area ensured the desired outcome. Many voters absent in the Confederate Army when the vote was taken refused to acknowledge the transfer upon their return. The
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere, the first elected legislative assembly in the New World, and was established on July 30, 1 ...
repealed the Act of Secession and in 1866 brought suit against West Virginia, asking the court to declare the counties a part of Virginia. Meanwhile, Congress, on March 10, 1866, passed a joint resolution recognizing the transfer. In 1871, the U.S. Supreme Court decided ''
Virginia v. West Virginia'', upholding the secession of West Virginia, including Berkeley and Jefferson counties, from Virginia.
In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into
civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States that is subordinate to a county, most often in the northern and midwestern parts of the country. The term town is used in New England, New York, and Wisconsin to ...
s, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into
magisterial districts. Berkeley County was divided into seven districts: Arden, Falling Waters, Gerrardstown, Hedgesville, Martinsburg, Mill Creek, and Opequon. The town of Martinsburg was originally co-extensive with Martinsburg District, but later spread into adjoining districts. Between 1990 and 2000, Berkeley County was redivided into six magisterial districts: Adam Stephens, Norborne, Potomac, Shenandoah, Tuscarora, and Valley.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy
An economy is an area of th ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.1%) is water.
Mountains and hills
*
Third Hill Mountain - highest and most
topographically prominent
In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest contou ...
peak in the county
Sleepy Creek Mountain
North Mountain
Rivers and streams
*
Potomac River
The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Datas ...
*
Back Creek
*
Tilhance Creek
*
Cherry Run
*
Meadow Branch
Meadow Branch is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed August 15, 2011 tributary stream of Sleepy Creek in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle region. It passes through the Slee ...
(tributary of
Sleepy Creek in Morgan County)
*
Opequon Creek
*
Middle Creek
*
Mill Creek
*
Tuscarora Creek
Agricultural land and conservation easements
Berkeley County has 53
farmland easements which place permanent restrictions on development, covering 5,133 acres of land, according to the Berkeley County Farmland Protection Board.
Major highways
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Adjacent counties
*
Washington County, Maryland
Washington County is located in the Western Maryland, western part of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 154,705. Its county seat is Hagerstown, Maryland, Hagerstown. Washington Coun ...
(north)
*
Jefferson County Jefferson County may refer to one of several counties or parishes in the United States, all of which are named directly or indirectly after Thomas Jefferson:
*Jefferson County, Alabama
*Jefferson County, Arkansas
*Jefferson County, Colorado
**Jeffe ...
(southeast)
*
Frederick County, Virginia
Frederick County is located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,419. Its county seat is Winchester. The county was formed in 1743 by the splitting of Orange County. It is Virginia's northernmost count ...
(south)
*
Morgan County (northwest)
Demographics
2000 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2000, there were 75,905 people, 29,569 households, and 20,698 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 32,913 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 92.74%
White
White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 4.69%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...
or
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 0.25%
Native American, 0.46%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of Ocea ...
, 0.56% from
other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population were
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or
Latino of any race.
There were 29,569 households, out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,763, and the median income for a family was $44,302. Males had a median income of $32,010 versus $23,351 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the county was $17,982. About 8.70% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the
2010 United States Census, there were 104,169 people, 39,855 households, and 27,881 families residing in the county.
The population density was . There were 44,762 housing units at an average density of .
The racial makeup of the county was 87.8% white, 7.1% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.2% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.8% of the population.
In terms of ancestry, 27.0% were
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
, 14.8% were
Irish, 12.3% were
English, 10.2% were
American, and 5.1% were
Italian.
Of the 39,855 households, 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.0% were non-families, and 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 37.6 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $52,857 and the median income for a family was $64,001. Males had a median income of $45,654 versus $34,239 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,460. About 7.0% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government and public safety
County government
Berkeley County has an elected five member County Council.
Berkeley County Sheriff
The Sheriff's Office operates the county jail, provides court protection, provides county building and facility security, and provides patrol and detective services for unincorporated areas of the county. Martinsburg has a municipal police department.
Berkeley County Emergency Ambulance Authority
Emergency medical services for the county are provided by career employees of the BCEAA. A third service organization with an independent agency council which includes an elected member of the county council. BCEAA is responsible for all EMS throughout the county and is separate from the volunteer fire departments in the area.
Politics
After having leaned strongly towards the Democratic Party between the New Deal and
Bill Clinton’s presidency, most of West Virginia has since 2000 seen a powerful swing towards the Republican Party due to declining unionization and differences with the Democratic Party’s liberal views on social issues. Berkeley County, in contrast, was in the majority opposed to secession at
the Virginia Secession Convention and has voted solidly Republican over most of the century and a half since, with the exception of Democratic landslides. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Berkeley County since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Communities
City
*
Martinsburg Martinsburg may refer to:
Places
In the United States:
* Martinsburg, Indiana
*Martinsburg, Iowa
*Sandy Hook, Kentucky, originally incorporated as Martinsburg
*Martinsburg, Missouri
*Martinsburg, Ripley County, Missouri
*Martinsburg, Nebraska
...
(county seat)
Town
*
Hedgesville
Census-designated places
*
Falling Waters
*
Inwood
Unincorporated communities
*
Allensville
*
Arden
*
Baker Heights
*
Baxter
*
Bedington
*
Berkeley
*
Bessemer
*
Blairton
*
Bunker Hill
*
Darkesville
*
Douglas Grove
*
Files Crossroad
*
Ganotown
*
Georgetown
*
Gerrardstown
*
Glengary
*
Greensburg
*
Grubbs Corner
*
Hainesville
*
Johnsontown
*
Jones Springs
*
Little Georgetown
*
Marlowe
*
Nipetown
*
Nollville
*
North Mountain
*
Pikeside
*
Ridgeway
*
Scrabble
''Scrabble'' is a word game in which two to four players score points by placing tiles, each bearing a single letter, onto a game board divided into a 15×15 grid of squares. The tiles must form words that, in crossword fashion, read left ...
*
Shanghai
Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flowin ...
*
Spring Mills
*
Swan Pond
Swan Pond, also known as "Folkland" and the Dr. Edward O. Williams House, is a historic home located near Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States. It was built after 1810, and has a -story, five bay wide, brick main section w ...
*
Tablers Station
*
Tarico Heights
*
Tomahawk
A tomahawk is a type of single-handed axe used by the many Indigenous peoples and nations of North America. It traditionally resembles a hatchet with a straight shaft. In pre-colonial times the head was made of stone, bone, or antler, and Eur ...
*
Union Corner
*
Van Clevesville
*
Vanville
*
Winebrenners Crossroad
*
Wynkoop Spring
Magisterial districts
* Adam Stephen
* Norborne
* Potomac
* Shenandoah
* Tuscarora
* Valley
Notable people
*
Victoria "Vicky" Bullett, former professional women's basketball player, member of the 1988 and 1992 U.S. Olympic Teams that won gold and bronze medals respectively.
*
Christopher Martinka
Christopher is the English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or '' Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), " Christ" or " Anointed", and φέρ ...
, an award-winning Scottish-American documentary photographer.
*
Thomas Hinds (1780 - 1840), a military hero of the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It ...
, US Congressman, and namesake of
Hinds County, Mississippi
Hinds County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. With its county seats (Raymond and the state's capital, Jackson), Hinds is the most populous county in Mississippi with a 2020 census population of 227,742 residents. Hinds Co ...
.
"Thomas Hinds,"
Jefferson County website, www.jeffersoncountyms.org/
* William Robinson Leigh
William Robinson Leigh (September 23, 1866 – March 11, 1955) was an American artist and illustrator, who was known for his painted Western scenes.
Biography
William Robinson Leigh was born on September 23, 1866, at Maidstone Manor Farm, B ...
(1866 – 1955), an American artist who specialized in Western scenes, was born at Maidstone Manor.
* Christian Lopez (2014–present), an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
See also
* Berkeley County Schools
Berkeley County Schools is the operating school district within Berkeley County, West Virginia. It is headquartered in the county seat of Martinsburg.
Board of Education
Berkeley County Schools is governed by the Berkeley County Board of E ...
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Berkeley County, West Virginia
Footnotes
References
Sources
* Aler, F. Vernon. 1888. ''Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia: From the Origin of the Indians ...'', Hagerstown, MD: Mail Publishing Company
* Doherty, William T. ''Berkeley County, U.S.A.: A Bicentennial History of a Virginia and West Virginia County, 1772-1972''. Parsons, WV: McClain Printing Company, 1972
* Evans, Willis F. ''History of Berkeley County, West Virginia''. Wheeling, WV, 1928 (unknown publisher)
* Dilger, Dr. Robert Jay, Director, Institute for Public Affairs and Professor of Political Science at West Virginia University
West Virginia University (WVU) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, Potomac State Coll ...
External links
*
Chamber of Commerce of Martinsburg and Berkeley County
{{authority control
1772 establishments in Virginia
Populated places established in 1772
West Virginia counties on the Potomac River
Counties of Appalachia