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Welcome to historic Berkeley County,WV, one of the first settled areas of the State of West Virginia. Many Quakers and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, along with the English and Dutch, became residents here in the early 1700s. They were followed by the Germans who built many present farm complexes. The County has a wealth of historic, architecturally important buildings dating from the 1740s into the 20th century. Many of these buildings, including several districts and villages, have been researched and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Berkeley County was formed from Frederick County, Virginia, in 1772 and named for Lord Norborne Berkeley. The County seat was established in the colonial village of Martinsburg, named for Thomas Bryan Martin, Lord Fairfax's nephew, and was incorporated in 1778. The arrival of the B&O Railroad in the 1840s gave Martinsburg and Berkeley County a big boost. During the Civil War, Martinsburg and Berkeley County, still a part of Virginia, experienced conflict and much destruction. Many families had divided allegiances. In June 1861 Stonewall Jackson destroyed the railroad cars at the Martinsburg B&O Railroad complex and commandeered the engines, dragging them through Winchester to Strasburg. The Roundhouse and machine shops were completely stripped. The first major conflict in the area occurred on July 2, 1861, when the North's General Robert Patterson crossed the Potomac River at Williamsport and defeated the South's General Joseph E. Johnston and General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. On October 18 and 19, 1862 the Martinsburg B&O Railroad complex and Roundhouses were burned. After November 1863, Berkeley County became a part of the new state of West Virginia that supported the North.
In 1872 the Pennsylvania Railroad came to the area, and it, along with the B&O Railroad, gave the area an excellent transportation base. In early times, a major source of the area's income came from selling flour produced by the area's water-powered mills to the Alexandria and Baltimore markets. Electricity, replacing water power, soon followed and the area became a large textile milling center.
Martinsburg continues to be the focus of the business area of Berkeley County. Many of Martinsburg's historic and architecturally important buildings were included in seven historic districts placed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 1980.
Two more districts were placed on the National Register in December 2002.
Berkeley County Health Department - The West Virginia Health Connection, source for health related information for Berkeley County and West Virginia. This site is separated into three sections, school, medical, and environmental health.
Berkeley County Data Page - Information from the National Association of Counties about the Berkeley County area. Includes elected officials, census and capitol impact data.
Berkeley County Development Authority - Berkeley County and the state of West Virginia set forth an aggressive campaign to attract new business to the area and to support existing firms.
Berkeley County Economic Development - Includes demographics, history of the county, government telephone numbers, and links to other Berkeley County Sites.
Berkeley County Farmland Protection Board - The Farmland Protection Act site includes the definition, purpose, methods, and eligibility requirements of the act.
Berkeley County Government - The official website of the Berkeley County Commission, and all local county government. Included in this site are the county's ordinances, agendas, and minutes along with applications to be downloaded.
Berkeley County Health Profile - County health statistics for the years 1989 to 1998.
Berkeley County Public Service Sewer District - Includes the BCPSD mission statement, billing, current projects, forms, and lateral specs.
Berkeley County Schools - Berkeley County Schools official web site provides information about schools in Berkeley County West Virginia. Includes links to all school sites in the county, and announcements from the school system.
Berkeley County, WV Population by Decades - Population table for the years 1900 to 2000, brought to you by the Real Estate Center. Census data supplied from the U.S. Bureau of Census.
BVFD Interstate Fair - The Berkeley County BVFD Interstate Fair is one of West Virginia's largest annual carnivals. This event is hosted by the Bedington fire department as a fund raising event which includes a midway, live entertainment, fireworks and many more attractions.
Chamber of Commerce of Martinsburg and Berkeley County - Includes details about membership, business help, visitor information, an event calendar, officers, the mission of the chamber, and even an online store.
Eastern Panhandle Traffic Net - Includes amateur radio-related links.
Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority - General information about "Pan Tran", includes schedules, fares, routes, and how to use this public transportation that serves Berkeley County.
Happy Endings.info - Free, non-commercial community bulletin board for lost & found pet listings, pet adoption listings and discussion of issues of responsible pet oownerhship. Serving Berkeley, Morgan, and Jefferson counties.
my town voice - Site includes classified ads, community directory, bulletin boards, and general information about the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.
Travel WV - Explore the Martinsburg and eastern panhandle areas. Includes lodging, shopping, dining, and calendar of events.
WVU Berkeley County Extension Service - The Berkeley County office provides many local educational programs to area families, businesses, and communities. We are also your link to other WVU Extension offices and to West Virginia University colleges and offices.
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