West Virginia History

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Brief History
The following important events in the history of West Virginia affected political jurisdictions, family movements, and record keeping. For information about the United States from prior to 1712 see the United States History page.

1712: Baron Christopher de Graffenreid visits the Eastern Panhandle looking for land for Swiss families. For more information on immigration to West Virginia see the West Virginia Emigration and Immigration page.

1719: Presbyterians founded the first church in West Virginia, Potomoke Church at Shepherdstown.

1731-1734: Morgan Morgan, the first white settler in West Virginia established a home in Berkeley County, Virginia. 1738: Frederick and Augusta counties were formed from Orange County, Virginia. Frederick County included territory later in the Eastern panhandle of West Virginia and began functioning in 1743. Augusta County encompassed all the area west of the Blue Ridge mountains north of the Carolinas and began functioning in 1745.

1753:  Hampshire County, Virginia was created. This was the first county whose boundaries were within present-day West Virginia.

1775:  West Augusta District was established by Virginia and include d all of West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Ownership of part of this district was disputed with Pennsylvania.

1779:  Virginia ceded most of the northern part of West Augusta District to Pennsylvania after Pennsylvania agreed to accept land grants that Virginia had made in the disputed region.

1784:  Virginia ceded its claims north of the Ohio River to the United States but reserved a section known as the Military District for Revolutionary War bounty land.

1788:  Virginia ratified the constitution and became a state. For more information about the United States during the Colonial Times see the Colonial Times 1607-1789 page.

1800: 78,000 people in West Virginia, with 35,000 west of the Alleghenies. Existed 13 counties, 8 post offices, and 19 incorporated towns.

1801: Jefferson county was created from Berkeley county.

1803: First newspaper west of the Alleghenies is the Monongalia Gazette and Morgantown Advertiser.

1804: Mason county was created from Kanawha county. 1818: The Cumberland Road (or National Road) was completed from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling. Counties were changed with Preston county being created from Monongalia county and Nicholas county was created from Greenbrier, Kanawha, Randolph Counties. Charles Town renamed Charleston.

1861-1865: In a dispute over secession, fifty western counties broke off to form the “restored government of Virginia,” which remained loyal to the Union. The state of West Virginia was admitted to the Union in 1863. During the Civil War, about 32,000 West Virginia soldiers enlisted in the Union Army, while 9,000 served the Confederacy. For more information about the Civil War see the United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 page.

1870s:  Industrial expansion in West Virginia attracted Black immigrants from southern states and European immigrants from overseas.

1898: The Spanish-American War which was fought mainly in Cuba and the Philippines. West Virginia had 3,004 soldiers serve.

1917–1918: West Virginia men from the United States ages 18 through 45 registered with the Selective Service. World War I had over 58,053 men and women from West Virginia serve during the war.

1930's: The Great Depression closed many factories and mills. Many small farms were abandoned, and many families moved to cities.

1940–1945: Over 50.6 million men ages 18 to 65 registered with the Selective Service. Over 16.3 million American men and women served in the armed forces during World War II.

1950–1953: Over 5.7 million American men and women served in the Korean War.

1950's–1960's The building of interstate highways made it easier for people to move long distances.

1964–1972: Over 8.7 million American men and women served in the Vietnam War.

Local Histories
Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. They describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. Local histories are extensively collected by the Family History Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. The United States Research "History" page cites nationwide bibliographies of local histories which include histories of West Virginia.


 * West Virginia History: a bibliography and guide to research


 * Bibliography of Local History and Genealogy This is a helpful index to books and articles on West Virginia families.


 * A Bibliography of American County Histories


 * United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress

To determine county boundary changes, see:


 * West Virginia County Formations and Boundary Changes

State Histories Useful to Genealogists
Good genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful. But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the laudatory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name. Some examples for the State of West Virginia are:


 * Making a State: Formation of West Virginia


 * The West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia This primarily includes biographical and geographical sketches from other published sources. This serves as a partial index to the Supplemental Series.


 * The West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia: Supplemental Series This contains reprints of several articles and books related to West Virginia history and people.


 * West Virginia: A History.


 * Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars.


 * Chronicles of Border Warfare

To find more books and articles about West Virginia's history use the Internet Google search for phases like "West Virginia history." Family History Library Catalog Surname Search lists many more histories under topics like:


 * WEST VIRGINIA - HISTORY
 * WEST VIRGINIA, [COUNTY] - HISTORY
 * WEST VIRGINIA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - HISTORY
 * WEST VIRGINIA, BIBLIOGRAPHY

Web Sites

 * Formation of West Virginia Counties
 * Kinyon Digital Library is a History of The Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territory
 * West Virginia Timeline
 * West Virginia Archives and History