According to Liuxers, Jefferson County, West Virginia is situated in the eastern panhandle of the state and is bordered by Berkeley, Morgan, and Loudoun Counties. With a population of over 54,000 people, Jefferson County is the fifth most populous county in West Virginia. The county seat is Charles Town, which was established in 1786 and named after George Washington’s brother Charles. Other major cities in Jefferson County include Harpers Ferry and Shepherdstown.
The county covers an area of approximately 312 square miles and includes numerous rivers and streams such as the Shenandoah River and Opequon Creek. The Appalachian Mountains run through the western portion of the county providing numerous outdoor recreational opportunities such as hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and whitewater rafting.
The economy of Jefferson County is primarily based on tourism with many attractions such as historic sites like Harpers Ferry National Historical Park; wineries; breweries; shopping districts like Shepherdstown’s Bavarian-style shops; outdoor recreation activities such as kayaking and skiing at Whitetail Ski Resort; golf courses; museums; theaters; art galleries; music venues; restaurants offering a variety of cuisines from Italian to Japanese to Mexican; plus many more activities for visitors to enjoy. Additionally, there are several large employers located within Jefferson County including UPMC Potomac Ridge Hospital Center and Blue Ridge Community & Technical College.
Jefferson County has a rich history that dates back to 1719 when it was first settled by German immigrants. Today, it continues to be a vibrant community with a population that is diverse both culturally and economically making it an attractive destination for tourists looking for an unforgettable experience or those looking to make it their permanent home.
History of Jefferson County, West Virginia
Jefferson County, West Virginia has a long and rich history that dates back to 1719 when it was first settled by German immigrants. The county was created in 1801 when it was separated from Berkeley County. In 1802, the county seat of Charles Town was established and named after George Washington’s brother Charles.
During the Civil War, Jefferson County saw a lot of action as it was located along the border between Union and Confederate forces. Confederate troops were stationed in Charles Town while Union troops held Harpers Ferry. On October 16, 1859, John Brown led a raid on Harpers Ferry in an attempt to arm slaves with weapons stored there. This raid eventually led to the start of the Civil War on April 12, 1861.
In 1863, Union forces destroyed much of the infrastructure in Jefferson County during their campaign against Confederate forces resulting in massive destruction and displacement of many residents of the county. After the war ended in 1865, reconstruction began with new bridges being built over rivers and streams as well as new roads being constructed throughout the county.
The economy of Jefferson County has seen great changes over time as well. Agriculture used to be its primary industry but has since been replaced by tourism due to its many attractions such as historic sites like Harpers Ferry National Historical Park; wineries; breweries; shopping districts like Shepherdstown’s Bavarian-style shops; outdoor recreation activities such as kayaking and skiing at Whitetail Ski Resort; golf courses; museums; theaters; art galleries; music venues; restaurants offering a variety of cuisines from Italian to Japanese to Mexican; plus many more activities for visitors to enjoy. Additionally, there are several large employers located within Jefferson County including UPMC Potomac Ridge Hospital Center and Blue Ridge Community & Technical College which provide employment opportunities for local residents.
Today, Jefferson County remains an important part of West Virginia’s history and culture with its diverse population making it an attractive destination for tourists looking for an unforgettable experience or those looking to make it their permanent home.
Major cities and towns in Jefferson County, West Virginia
Jefferson County, West Virginia is home to an array of vibrant cities and towns. Located in the eastern panhandle of the state, the county is bordered by Frederick County, Maryland to the north; Berkeley County, West Virginia to the south; Clarke County, Virginia to the east; and Washington County, Maryland to the west. The county seat is Charles Town and it is also home to several other cities and towns.
The largest city in Jefferson County is Ranson with a population of around 5,000 people. It is located just off I-81 and US-340 making it easily accessible from nearby Washington DC. It was founded in 1792 as a small farming community but has since grown into a vibrant city with many attractions such as historic sites like Ranson Civil War Museum; shopping centers like Ranson Plaza; golf courses like The Woods Resort & Golf Club; wineries such as Mountain View Vineyard & Winery; restaurants offering a variety of cuisines from Mexican to Italian to Chinese and more; plus many more activities for visitors to enjoy.
Kearneysville is another major city located within Jefferson County with a population of approximately 2,500 people. It was founded in 1835 by Dr. John Kearney who owned a large tract of land in what would later become Kearneysville. Today, it offers visitors plenty of attractions such as historic sites like Old Stone Church which was built in 1838; shopping centers like Charles Towne Square Shopping Center; wineries such as Breaux Vineyards & Winery; golf courses such as Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club; plus many more activities for visitors to enjoy.
Charles Town is another major city within Jefferson County with a population of approximately 5,000 people. It was established in 1786 by Charles Washington, brother of George Washington who gave it its name. Today, it features numerous attractions such as historic sites like Harpers Ferry National Historical Park which commemorates John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry during the Civil War in 1859; shopping districts like Shepherdstown’s Bavarian-style shops where visitors can find unique souvenirs and gifts for their loved ones back home or abroad; wineries such as Stone Tower Winery which provides tours and tastings year round for those looking for an unforgettable experience sampling wines made from local grapes grown right there on site or nearby vineyards all over West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle region; plus many more activities for tourists visiting this charming town situated along the Potomac River Valley near Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
Other cities and towns located within Jefferson County include Bolivar, Harpers Ferry, Middleway, Shepherdstown and Summit Point – each offering its own unique attractions that make them worth visiting while you’re there exploring this beautiful part of West Virginia.
Airports in Jefferson County, West Virginia
Jefferson County, West Virginia has two airports that serve the area: Eastern WV Regional Airport (MRB) and Shepherd Field Airport (W41). See West Virginia airports. Eastern WV Regional Airport is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia and is the larger of the two airports. It is a public-use airport owned by the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority and operated by the Berkeley County Commission. The airport serves as a hub for private, commercial, corporate and military aircraft with an average of over 100 flights per day. It features two runways: one asphalt runway measuring 8,500 feet long and one turf runway measuring 4,000 feet long.
Shepherd Field Airport is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and is a privately owned public-use airport. The airport has one runway measuring 3,811 feet long which can accommodate small aircraft such as single engine planes and helicopters. The airport does not feature any scheduled commercial service but it does offer charter flights to destinations throughout the state of West Virginia.
Both airports are well equipped with all necessary amenities including fuel services, hangars for aircraft storage and maintenance services plus car rental services to help visitors explore the area upon arrival. They both also have onsite restaurants where travelers can grab a bite to eat or unwind after their flight before continuing on their journey.
In addition to these two airports in Jefferson County there are several other nearby airports located within easy driving distance such as Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) which offers scheduled commercial service from many major carriers; Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) which offers charter flights; Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) which offers international service from many major airlines; plus numerous smaller regional airports throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia that offer convenient access to Jefferson County from all over the world.
Jefferson County has plenty of airport options for locals as well as visitors looking for convenient access to this beautiful part of West Virginia.