Burlington is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...
(CDP) in
Mineral County,
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 Bur ...
, United States, located along
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 or U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching from Interstate 80 (I-80) in West Sacramento, California, to Maryland Route 528 (MD 528) in Ocean City, Maryland, on the Atlanti ...
(also known as the
Northwestern Turnpike
The Northwestern Turnpike is a historic road in West Virginia (Virginia at the time the road was created), important for being historically one of the major roads crossing the Appalachians, financed by the Virginia Board of Public Works in the 183 ...
) where it crosses
Pattersons Creek
Patterson Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed August 15, 2011 tributary of the North Branch Potomac River in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, in the United States. ...
. As of the
2020 census, its population was 131.
It is part of the
Cumberland
Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...
,
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 ...
. The
ZIP code for Burlington is 26710.
Festivals
Burlington is the home of the Old Fashioned Apple Harvest Festival (started in 1973), which has grown into the biggest celebration of its kind in the
Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
The Eastern Panhandle is the eastern of the two salient (geography), panhandles in the U.S. state of West Virginia; the other is the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, Northern Panhandle. It is a small stretch of territory in the northeast of ...
. It is held annually on the first weekend of October.
History
Burlington is situated along the old
Northwestern Turnpike
The Northwestern Turnpike is a historic road in West Virginia (Virginia at the time the road was created), important for being historically one of the major roads crossing the Appalachians, financed by the Virginia Board of Public Works in the 183 ...
(
US 50
U.S. Route 50 or U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching from Interstate 80 (I-80) in West Sacramento, California, to Maryland Route 528 (MD 528) in Ocean City, Maryland, on the Atlantic ...
) in southeastern
Mineral County, West Virginia
Mineral County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,938. Its county seat is Keyser. The county was founded in 1866.
Hi ...
. German and English settlers began to populate the area of Burlington in the second quarter of the 18th century following the surveying of
Patterson Creek Manor by
Thomas, Lord Fairfax in 1738.
The village took shape around the turn of the 19th century as several mills constructed along Mill Creek and Patterson Creek brought commerce to the region. The Burlington Post Office was established on September 24, 1827. (It was closed from 1844-1853 and from 1860-1867). The construction of the Northwestern Turnpike through Burlington in 1831 helped to further its development into a regional center for commerce. Many of the houses admired for their architecture in the village today were constructed in the first half of the 19th century during this time of economic prosperity. One of the oldest houses in Burlington, the Homestead, was built as a tavern to service the stage coach traffic which came through the village along the turnpike. Constructed by John and Ruth Ann Vandiver, the Homestead continued to serve as an inn and restaurant well into the mid-twentieth century.
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 states th ...
, at least six skirmishes were fought in or near Burlington between Union and Confederate forces in 1861 and 1863. The first three actions took place on September 2, 1861, and April 6 and 26, 1863 between the Ringgold Cavalry of Pennsylvania and confederate forces. On August 4, 1863, the union Washington County Cavalry company fought near the town, and the federal LaFayette County Cavalry company was engaged near it on October 13, 1863. On November 16, 1863, a company of the 2nd Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade and two Union companies of the
14th West Virginia Infantry were engaged with Confederate forces in a skirmish about three miles south of the town. Three union soldiers, First Lieutenant George W. Hardman, Sergeant Samuel H. Morris and Private William Gardner were killed.
In 1913, Dr. F.L. Baker of Burlington and Rev. F.C. Rollman, Postmaster of nearby
Elk Garden organized the Star of Hope Child Refuge, a home and school for orphaned children who otherwise would have been sent to the county poor farm or orphanage. From 1950 through 1993, the center was known as the Burlington United Methodist Children's Home and today is known as the Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. The center's campus includes residential and classroom buildings in Burlington. The Burlington United Methodist Family Services also operates facilities in
Keyser and
Beckley.
Burlington remains a rural farming community. The
Burlington Historic District was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1992, and includes approximately 25 homes and businesses.
Historic Sites
* The Homestead (c. 1831) A Federal styled brick house constructed by John and Ruth Ann Vandiver as a tavern along the Northwestern Turnpike. Originally built as a side-hall house, later additions expanded it into a center hall plan
* The Vandiver House (1881) A brick and frame house designed in Queen Anne style by B.B. Price of Philadelphia, constructed by Captain John and Jane Vandiver.
* Union Church (c. 1892) The original church in Burlington was a log structure erected near the village cemetery between 1808 and 1818 and used by the Patterson Creek Baptist Church. This building was replaced with the "Free Church" in 1854 which was used by several congregations, including the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church. These two congregations erected a new church in 1892 on Burlington's Main Street which is called the Union Church. It is of frame construction and is built in Gothic Revival style.
* Twin Mountain and Potomac Railroad Station (1911) The freight station of
Twin Mountain and Potomac Railroad
The Twin Mountain and Potomac Railroad was built in 1911 to haul fruit from Twin Mountain Orchards to Keyser. It was a narrow gauge railroad and the freight was transferred to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Keyser. The Burlington, West Vir ...
, which was built in 1911 to haul fruit from the orchards on the mountains around Burlington to
Keyser, has also served as the post office and currently houses a branch of the Keyser-Mineral County Library. The station building is the only remaining structure associated with the short-lived Twin Mountain and Potomac Railroad.
* Weaver's Service Station (Early 20th century) At
Weaver's Antique Service Station, one can step back in time to the days of gas pumps and classic cars. Operated until 1985 as a service station, the landmark has become a living museum complete with pedal cars and other service station memorabilia.
Located near Burlington are
Carskadon House,
Fairview,
Fort Hill, and
Travelers Rest, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
References
{{authority control
Census-designated places in Mineral County, West Virginia
Census-designated places in West Virginia
Northwestern Turnpike