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 1830s. In modern times, west of Winchester, Virginia , U.S. Route 50 follows the path of the Northwestern Turnpike into West Virginia, whose major Corridor D project follows the western section of the original Northwestern Turnpike.
84-521: The following description of the Northwestern Turnpike is taken from Dr. J. M. Callahan's Semi-Centennial History of West Virginia , pages 106-9, published in 1913: "The old Northwestern Turnpike, extending from Winchester , Virginia on a general westward course to Parkersburg , West Virginia on the Ohio , is a historic highway which deserves more mention than it has ever received as
168-580: A Council-Manager form of government. It is governed by the Common Council, an elected body within a ward system. The city is composed of four wards, each with 2 councilmen, with the city's mayor serving as the ninth representative and leader of the council. While the council began as a 13-member board, it transitioned from 13 to 9, beginning in 2006 and ending in 2008. Winchester Public Schools operates public schools, including John Handley High School . The most prominent highway serving Winchester
252-724: A factor related to the American westward movement and to the problem of communication between East and West. It was the inevitable result of the call of the West and the need of a Virginia state road." "Perhaps its first suggestion was recorded by George Washington , who in 1758 had been the champion of the Braddock road (not then supposed to lie in Pennsylvania ) and who in 1784 sought a route located wholly in Virginia. Returning from
336-533: A good portion of his young life in Winchester helping survey the Fairfax land grant for Thomas Fairfax, Sixth Lord Fairfax, as well as performing surveying work for Colonel Wood. In 1758 Wood added 158 lots to the west side of town. In 1759 Thomas Lord Fairfax contributed 173 more lots to the south and east. General Edward Braddock 's expeditionary march to Fort Duquesne crossed through this area in 1755 on
420-528: A household in the county was $ 28,916, and the median income for a family was $ 33,813. Males had a median income of $ 24,796 versus $ 18,354 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 15,696. About 12.60% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the poverty line , including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 18.70% of those age 65 or over. Grant County lies within West Virginia's 2nd congressional district . The current representative of
504-402: A male householder with no spouse present. The average household and family size was 3.49. The median age in the county was 46.3 years with 19.6% of the population under 18. The median income for a household was $ 47,224 and the poverty rate was 12.1%. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 11,937 people, 4,941 households, and 3,435 families living in the county. The population density
588-577: A new record processing plant. Along with this plant they built several houses, bought a few small businesses and later built a tape production plant. The Winchester plant began construction in 1968 and production in 1969. The plant initially had a workforce of 250 people. This plant complemented the other existing manufacturing facilities of Capitol Records in Scranton, PA, Jacksonville, FL and Los Angeles, CA. In 1969 Capitol Records' Pressing Plant in Scranton began phasing out its vinyl manufacturing in favor of
672-468: A stage line established from Winchester to Cumberland. It was built across the Appalachian Divide with the hope of securing commercial superiority, and was the main thoroughfare between East and West through northern Virginia." "The act in incorporation of 1827, authorizing subscriptions at Winchester, Romney, Moorefield , Beverly , Kingwood , Pruntytown , Clarksburg, and Parkersburg made
756-488: A tire dump in the area containing over seven million tires burned for nine months, polluting nearby areas with lead and arsenic . The location was cleaned up as a Superfund project between 1983 and 2002. Winchester is located at 39°10′41″N 78°10′01″W / 39.178°N 78.167°W / 39.178; -78.167 . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has
840-611: A total area of 9.3 square miles (24 km ), virtually all land. It is in the Shenandoah Valley , located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains , and is 15 miles north-northeast of the northern peak of Massanutten Mountain . I-81 passes through the city, along with US 50 , US 522 , US 17 , which ends in the city, and SR 7 , which also ends in the city. The city
924-528: A visit to his western lands, after following McCulloch's Path (then the most important route across the rugged ridges between the valleys), he crossed the North Branch Potomac River on the future route of the greater Virginia highway which was partially realized in the 'state road' authorized from Winchester via Romney to Morgantown before 1786, and extended westward in 1786 by a branch road from near Cheat to Clarksburg , from which
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#17327718552221008-549: Is Interstate 81 . I-81 extends northeast to southwest, connecting Winchester to eastern Tennessee , southwestern Virginia, eastern West Virginia , western Maryland and central Pennsylvania . Other highways passing through Winchester include U.S. Route 11 , U.S. Route 17 , U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 522 . These four highways follow city streets through downtown Winchester, with U.S. Route 17 coming to its northern terminus. Virginia State Route 7 also serves Winchester, terminating in downtown. Virginia State Route 37 bypasses
1092-550: Is 9/10ths of the law , built a home here (in present-day Clarke County) in 1748. In February 1752, the Virginia House of Burgesses granted the fourth city charter in Virginia to 'Winchester' as Frederick Town was renamed after Colonel Wood's birthplace in England. In 1754, Abraham Hollingsworth built the local residence called Abram's Delight, which served as the first local Quaker meeting house. George Washington spent
1176-489: Is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia . As of the 2020 census , the population was 10,976. Its county seat is Petersburg . The county was created from Hardy County in 1866 and named for Civil War General and the 18th president of the United States Ulysses S. Grant . The territory that became Grant County in 1866 was originally part of Hampshire County , the oldest county formed within
1260-564: Is approximately 75 miles (121 km) to the west of Washington, D.C., 24 miles (39 km) south of Martinsburg, West Virginia , 25 miles (40 km) north of Front Royal , 118 miles (190 km) south of Harrisburg, PA and 180 miles (290 km) north of Roanoke . The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Winchester has depending on which isotherm
1344-557: Is known of specific tribal movements before European contact, the Shenandoah Valley area, considered a sacred common hunting ground, appears by the 17th century to have been controlled mostly by the local Iroquoian -speaking groups, including the Senedo and Sherando . The Algonquian -speaking Shawnee began to challenge the Iroquoians for the hunting grounds later in that century. The explorers Batts and Fallam in 1671 reported
1428-528: Is paved from Romney to Alaska from which point a hard-surfaced road extends to Cumberland where connection is made with the National Road ( U.S. Route 40 )." Winchester, Virginia Winchester is the northwesternmost independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia , United States . It is the county seat of Frederick County , although the two are separate jurisdictions. As of
1512-701: Is represented in the West Virginia House of Delegates by one Delegate. The Delegate for Grant County is John Paul Hott (R) for district 85. Grant County's government consists the County Administrator and the County Commission. The County Administrator is the county executive that handles all administrative duties for and reports to the County Commission. The position of the Grant County Administrator
1596-655: Is used, either a humid continental climate or a humid subtropical climate , abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hardiness zone is 6b/7a. Winchester is one of the only cities in Virginia to have a humid continental climate. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. Companies based in Winchester include American Woodmark , Trex , and Rubbermaid Commercial Products . Federal agencies with operations in Winchester include
1680-828: The 2020 census , the city's population was 28,120. It is the principal city of the Winchester metropolitan area with a population of just over 145,000 extending into West Virginia , which is a part of the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area . Winchester is home to Shenandoah University and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley . Indigenous peoples lived along the waterways of present-day Virginia for thousands of years before European contact. Archeological , linguistic and anthropological studies have provided insights into their cultures. Though little
1764-542: The Army of Northern Virginia . He laid the foundations for the future Geneva conventions regarding the treatment of medical doctors during warfare. Winchester served as a major center for Confederate medical operations, particularly after the Battle of Sharpsburg in 1862 and the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Among those who took part in battles at Winchester were future U.S. presidents McKinley and Hayes , both as officers in
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#17327718552221848-481: The Baltimore and Ohio Railway. The fare from Green Spring to Parkersburg (210 miles) was $ 10.00." "The road, establishing commercial and other relations, soon became a busy thoroughfare of travel and traffic which stimulated the creation of many inns and towns along the route - such as Aurora, Fellowsville, Evansville (1833), and West Union (1846). In many ways it influenced the material prosperity and social life of
1932-695: The Federal Emergency Management Agency , the Federal Bureau of Investigation , and the United States Army Corps of Engineers . According to the City's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Winchester was home to Capitol Records ' East Coast Pressing Plant. Capitol Records Distribution Corporation announced in 1968 the purchasing of land in Winchester, Va for
2016-711: The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Shenandoah University is located in Winchester and has numerous male and female sports in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Winchester is also home to the Winchester Speedway, a 3/8-mile clay oval track, which plays host to a number of touring series, such as the World of Outlaws Late Model Series , and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series . Winchester's follows
2100-404: The 4,941 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 44.0 years. The median income for a household in
2184-607: The Anglican Frederick Parish (for purposes of tax collection). Colonel James Wood , an immigrant from Winchester , England, was the first court clerk and had been a surveyor for Orange County, Virginia . He contracted for his own home Glen Burnie homstead around 1737, and it may have been used for early government business. Wood laid out 26 half-acre (2,000 m ) lots in 1744. The County Court held its first session on November 11, 1743, where James Wood served until 1760. Lord Fairfax, understanding that possession
2268-685: The Carolinas in the early 18th century) finally ceded their nominal claim to the Shenandoah Valley at the Treaty of Lancaster (1744), arranged by British officials. The treaty also established the right of colonists to use the Indian Road through the valley, later known as the Great Wagon Road . The father of Shawnee chief Cornstalk had his own court at Shawnee Springs , near today's Cross Junction, Virginia , until 1754. In 1753, on
2352-526: The Northwestern at a point which became Fellowsville by 1848. It also doubtless influenced the legislature in 1837 to provide for a survey of Cheat from the turnpike crossing to the Pennsylvania line. On some parts of the course it furnished the incentive for the establishment of inns to meet the needs of those who desired to escape the heat of the seaboard by a summer sojourn amid the wild beauty of
2436-958: The Potomac River Valley. For instance, in 1861, Stonewall Jackson removed 56 locomotives and over 300 railroad cars, along with miles of track, from the B&;O Railroad. His attack closed down the B&O's main line for ten months. Much of the effort to transport this equipment by horse and carriage centered in Winchester. During the war, Winchester was occupied by the Union Army for four major periods: by Major General Nathaniel Banks (March ? May 12 to 25, 1862, and June 4 to September 2, 1862), Major General Robert Milroy (December 24, 1862, to June 15, 1863), Major General Philip Sheridan (September 19, 1864, to February 27, 1865), and Major General Winfield Scott Hancock (February 27, 1865, to June 27, 1865). Major General Sheridan raided up
2520-524: The Quakers purchased several tracts on Apple-pie Ridge from the natives, who did not disturb those settlements. The first German settler appears to have been Jost Hite in 1732, who brought ten other families, including some Scots-Irish. Though Virginia was an Anglican colony, Governor William Gooch had a tolerant policy on religion. The availability of land grants brought in many religious families, who were often given 50-acre (200,000 m ) plots through
2604-517: The Shawnee were contesting with the Iroquoians for control of the valley and were losing. During the later Beaver Wars , the powerful Iroquois Confederacy from New York (particularly Seneca from the western part of the territory) subjugated all tribes in the frontier region west of the Fall Line . By the time Anglo-European settlers arrived in the Shenandoah Valley around 1729, the Shawnee were
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2688-658: The Shenandoah Valley in 1861, Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862, the Gettysburg Campaign of 1863, and the Valley Campaigns of 1864 . Including minor cavalry raids and patrols, and occasional reconnaissances, historians claim that Winchester changed hands as many as 72 times and 13 times in one day. Battles raged along Main Street at points in the war. Union General Sheridan and Stonewall Jackson located their headquarters just one block apart at times. At
2772-565: The Siege of Boston. He led the 96 men of "Morgan's Sharpshooters" from Winchester on July 14, 1775, and marched to Boston in 21 days. Morgan, Wood, and others also performed duties in holding captured prisoners of war , particularly Hessian soldiers . Hessian soldiers were known to walk to the high ridge north and west of town, where they could purchase and eat apple pies made by the Quakers. The ridge became affectionately known as Apple Pie Ridge. The Ridge Road built before 1751 leading north from town
2856-564: The South Branch of the Potomac River crested at 22.6 feet during the incident. Flood stage in the shallow riverbed was only 7 feet. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 480 square miles (1,200 km ), of which 477 square miles (1,240 km ) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km ) (0.6%) is water. As of the 2020 census , there were 10,976 people and 4,147 households residing in
2940-709: The Union IX Corps . The United States assigned military presence to Winchester and other parts of the South during Reconstruction after the war. Winchester was part of the First Military District , commanded by Major General John Schofield . This period lasted until January 26, 1870. Winchester was the first city south of the Potomac River to install electric light . In 1917 the Winchester and Western Railroad connected Winchester with Rock Enon Springs , moving both vacationers and supplies to
3024-780: The Winchester plant. Winchester is the location of the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival , which has existed since 1924. It is usually held during the first weekend in May. The festival includes a carnival, firework show, parades, several dances and parties, and a coronation where the Apple Blossom Queen is crowned. Local school systems and many businesses close the Friday of Apple Blossom weekend. Winchester has more than 20 different "artistic" apples that are made of various materials including wood, rubber pipe, plaster, and paint. These apples were created in 2005 by occupants of
3108-655: The city and were placed at a specific location at the artists' request after being auctioned off. For example, a bright red apple with a large stethoscope attached to it was placed beside a much-used entrance to the Winchester Medical Center. Winchester is home to the Winchester Royals , which is part of the Valley Baseball League , a National Collegiate Athletic Association -sanctioned collegiate summer baseball league in
3192-517: The city to the west. Winchester Transit provides weekday transit for the city of Winchester. Winchester Regional Airport provides general aviation and air taxi service to the area. Winchester's first sister city, Winchester , England, is where the Virginia town gets its name. During the Eisenhower administration, Winchester also formalized a sister city relationship with Ambato, Ecuador . Grant County, West Virginia Grant County
3276-445: The county was $ 35,593 and the median income for a family was $ 46,193. Males had a median income of $ 35,000 versus $ 24,643 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 19,358. About 10.6% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over. As of the census of 2000, there were 11,299 people, 4,591 households, and 3,273 families living in
3360-420: The county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km ). There were 6,105 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 98.33% White , 0.67% Black or African American , 0.26% Indigenous American , 0.14% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.13% from other races , and 0.45% from two or more races. 0.55% of
3444-484: The county. There were 5,598 housing units in Preston. The racial makeup of the county was 95.6% White , 0.8% African American , 0.2% Asian , 0.2% Native American , 0.5% from other races , and 2.8% from two or more races . Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.8% of the population. Of the 12,510 households, 48.9% were married couples living together, 24.3% had a female householder with no spouse present, 23.1% had
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3528-521: The district is Alex Mooney (R). Politically, Grant County was historically a major outlier in West Virginia. While the rest of the state did not become a Republican bastion until the 21st century after having leaned heavily Democratic between the New Deal and Bill Clinton ’s presidency, Grant County has always been among the most strongly Republican counties in the country. Since Grant County
3612-707: The eve of the French and Indian War ( Seven Years' War ), messengers came to the Shawnee from tribes further west, inviting them to leave the Valley and cross the Alleghenies , which they did the following year. The Shawnee settled for some years in the Ohio Country before being forced by the US government under Indian Removal in the 1830s to remove to Indian Territory . French Jesuit expeditions may have first entered
3696-645: The first road was marked to the mouth of the Little Kanawha River between 1788 and 1790." "The later turnpike was planned and constructed by Virginia partly as a result of the rival activities of New York , Pennsylvania, and Maryland to secure the advantage in transportation facilities for the trade of the West; and was especially regarded as a rival of the National Road which was opened from Cumberland to Wheeling in 1818, and with which parts of Virginia obtained better connection in 1830 by
3780-535: The land in Virginia between the Rappahannock and the Potomac rivers", an old grant from King Charles II which overlapped and included Frederick County. It took some time for land titles to be cleared among early settlers. By 1738 these settlements became known as Frederick Town . The county of Frederick was carved out of Orange County. The first government was created, consisting of a County Court as well as
3864-494: The late 1720s, Governor William Gooch promoted settlement by issuing large land grants. Robert "King" Carter , manager of the Lord Fairfax proprietorship, acquired 200,000 acres (810 km ). This combination of events directly precipitated an inrush of settlers from Pennsylvania and New York, made up of a blend of Quakers and German and Scots-Irish homesteaders, many of them new immigrants. The Scots-Irish comprised
3948-537: The mistake of arbitrarily locating the route through important towns without proper consideration of the physical features of the country. After finding a way through Hampshire County via Mechanicsburg Gap in Mill Creek Mountain , and pushing on into Preston County , the engineers encountered insurmountable obstacles to the Kingwood route, causing the stock to languish." "The enterprise was saved by
4032-633: The most numerous group of immigrants from the British Isles before the American Revolutionary War . The settlement of Winchester began as early as 1729, when Quakers such as Abraham Hollingsworth migrated up (south) the Great Valley along the long-traveled Indian Path (later called the Great Wagon Road by the colonists) from Pennsylvania. He and others began to homestead on old Shawnee campgrounds. Tradition holds that
4116-516: The mountains, whose streams were filled with trout and whose forest furnished a home for deer and other game." "Beyond the headwaters of the Potomac , it passed over the Backbone, opening the way to a remote and inaccessible region bordering on the land of Canaan, which was made famous a few years later by 'The Clerk of Oxenford' (David Hunter Strother) in 'The Blackwater Chronicle' and later by
4200-522: The new Winchester plant. Records pressed here include the Talking Heads ' Remain in Light , Dead Boys ' Young, Loud and Snotty , and Yoko Ono 's Fly (Yoko Ono album) . Capitol Records announced in late 1987 that it would end tape duplicating production in the US, in favor of offshore manufacturing, including in Winchester by early 1988, putting more than 500 employees out of work when they closed
4284-587: The next, led to long-term stifling of the Quaker population. Winchester became a gateway to Quaker settlements further west; by the mid-19th century, the Quaker population was a small minority here. During the war in 1758, at the age of 26, Colonel George Washington was elected to represent Frederick County to the House of Burgesses . Daniel Morgan later served as a ranger protecting the borderlands of Virginia against Indian raids, returning to Winchester in 1759. Following
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#17327718552224368-482: The north end of the lower Shenandoah Valley, Winchester was a base of operations for major Confederate invasions into the Northern United States. At times the attacks threatened the capital of Washington, D.C. The town served as a central point for troops conducting major raids against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , Chesapeake and Ohio Canal , and turnpike and telegraph paths along those routes and
4452-435: The numerous heavy cattle driven over it in the winter and early spring. It was also much injured by high waters, especially in 1852 and 1853." "Although it never became of national importance as did its more renowned national rival at the north, it was for a while the busy scene of much business of a national character and gave fair promise of serving well the purpose for which Virginia had planned it until its larger usefulness
4536-463: The people of the region through which it passed. Following the act of 1831, which provided for satisfactory adjustment of land titles, it was an important incentive to immigration and settlement and development - especially along the region of southern Preston and in Ritchie. Its construction also stimulated the construction of intersecting roads, such as the Brandonville pike, starting from Somerfield, Pennsylvania, passing via Kingwood, and connecting with
4620-441: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 4,591 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
4704-410: The present boundaries of West Virginia, in 1754. In 1786, Hardy County was formed from the southern portion of Hampshire County. The county's boundaries were relatively stable from 1788 until 1866, when Grant County was formed from the western portion of Hardy. The first counties formed in the state following the admission of West Virginia to the Union were Grant and Mineral in 1866, the latter formed from
4788-447: The present town of Gormania and entered the southwest corner of Maryland through which it passed for eight and three-fourths miles, crossing the Alleghenies and emerging into Preston east of the German settlement (later known as Aurora ). It passed across the picturesque Cheat Valley considerably south of Rowlesburg , and via Fellowsville , Evansville , Thornton , Grafton , Pruntytown , and Bridgeport to Clarksburg, thence over
4872-473: The principal occupants in the area of the Shenandoah Valley that developed into Winchester. During the first decade of white settlement, the valley was also a conduit and battleground in a bloody intertribal war between the Seneca and allied Algonquian-speaking Lenape from the north, and their distant traditional enemies, the Siouan Catawba based in the Carolinas. The Iroquois Six Nations (the Tuscarora people had joined them by 1722 after losing battles in
4956-530: The remarkable act of 1831 which organized a road company, with the Governor as President and one of the Board of Directors, with power to borrow money ($ 125,000) on the credit of the State to construct a turnpike road of a minimum width of twelve feet, 'from Winchester to some point on the Ohio River to be situated by the principal engineer', and with the right to erect bridges or to regulate ferries already in existence and to establish toll-gates on each twenty-mile (32 km) section completed." "The chief engineer
5040-463: The resort that is now Camp Rock Enon with far greater speed. Winchester is the location of the bi-annual N-SSA national competition, keeping the tradition of Civil War era firearms alive. A three-block section of downtown Loudoun Street was closed to vehicular traffic in the 1970s and is a popular pedestrian area featuring many boutiques and cafés. The street was repaved with brick and landscaped in 2013. Apple Blossom Mall opened in 1982. In 1983,
5124-545: The road was completed through the wilds of Preston, considerably south of Kingwood, in 1832, and was opened westward to Clarksburg and Parkersburg by 1838. Its construction cost $ 400,000. It crossed the mountains by easy grades and the larger streams (in some sections all the streams) by good bridges. It was macadamized from Tygart Valley River to Parkersburg in 1848. About 1852, it was further improved by construction of new bridges across several streams at important crossings. In 1840, facilities for travel and news were increased on
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#17327718552225208-421: The same writer under the nom de plume 'Porte Crayon' in 'A Visit to the Virginian Canaan.'" "It might have been a road of greater importance if Virginia soon after its completion had not been induced to divert her interest from turnpikes to canals - influenced by the completion of a Pennsylvania system of transportation connecting with the Ohio at Pittsburgh . West of the Alleghenies, it was extensively damaged by
5292-502: The site of numerous battles during the American Civil War , as the Confederate and Union armies strove to control that portion of the Shenandoah Valley . Seven major battlefields are in the original Frederick County: Within the city of Winchester: Near the city of Winchester: Winchester was a key strategic position for the Confederate States Army during the war. It was an important operational objective in Gen Joseph E. Johnston 's and Col Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's defense of
5376-567: The sponsorship of fellow-religious grant purchasers and speculators. As a result, the Winchester area became home to some of the oldest Presbyterian , Quaker , Lutheran and Anglican churches in the valley. The first Lutheran worship was established by Rev. John Casper Stoever Jr. , and Alexander Ross established Hopewell Meeting for the Quakers. By 1736, Scots-Irish built the Opequon Presbyterian Church in Kernstown . A legal fight erupted in 1735 when Thomas Fairfax, Sixth Lord Fairfax came to Virginia to claim his land grant. It included "all
5460-405: The summit via the head of Ten Mile Creek to Salem , thence across Middle Island Creek at West Union and via Tollgate, Pennsboro , Ellenboro (earlier Shumley), the head of Goose Creek , and Murphytown to Parkersburg. Much of the route passed through a vast wilderness interspersed here and there by a few old settlements and towns." "No longer dependent on the larger towns for its success,
5544-443: The territory through which it passes." "While the Northwestern Turnpike does not cross Hardy County, it has affected the transportation to a large extent from the Moorefield and Petersburg regions to the north, and with the completion of West Virginia Route 28 to Junction will be the main outlet, both eastward and westward, for all the region from Moorefield southward, or until such time as old West Virginia Route 54 (now WV 28)
5628-410: The townships were converted into magisterial districts . Between its establishment and 1870, Grant County was divided into three townships: Grant, Milroy, and Union, which became magisterial districts in 1872. Most of the 47 people killed in the 1985 Election day floods were in Pendleton and Grant counties, according to the National Weather Service . At Franklin , the Pendleton County seat,
5712-415: The valley as early as 1606, as the explorer Samuel de Champlain made a crude map of the area in 1632. The first confirmed exploration of the northern valley was by the explorer John Lederer , who viewed the region from the current Fauquier and Warren County line on August 26, 1670. In 1705 the Swiss explorer Louise Michel and in 1716 Governor Alexander Spotswood did more extensive mapping and surveying. In
5796-409: The valley from Winchester, where his forces destroyed "2,000 barns filled with grain and implements, not to mention other outbuildings, 70 mills filled with wheat and flour" and "numerous head of livestock," to lessen the area's ability to supply the Confederates. Numerous local men served with the Confederate Army, mostly as troops. Hunter McGuire was Chief Surgeon of the Second "Jackson's" Corps of
5880-456: The vote in any of his four successful campaigns, and Lyndon Johnson only managed 37.8 percent in 1964. Jimmy Carter is the only other Democrat besides LBJ to have cracked the 30 percent barrier. Notably, in 2016, 2020, and 2024, Donald Trump received the highest percentages of the vote ever cast for a presidential candidate in this county. He held Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton , Joe Biden , and Kamala Harris to 10%, 11%, and 10% of
5964-410: The vote, respectively. At the state level, Grant County voted for popular Democratic governor Joe Manchin over his GOP opponent Russ Weeks by over 20 points in 2008 . Grant County is represented in one Senate district with two Senators in the West Virginia Senate . Senate members Senate members Jay Taylor (R) and Randy Smith (R) both serve in West Virginia's 14th Senate district . The county
6048-668: The war, from 1763 to 1774 Daniel Morgan served in Captain Ashby's company and defended Virginia against Pontiac's Rebellion and Shawnee Indians in the Ohio valley (that part now in West Virginia ). During the Revolutionary War, the Virginia House of Burgesses chose local resident and French and Indian War veteran Daniel Morgan to raise a company of militia to support General George Washington's efforts during
6132-477: The way to Fort Cumberland . Knowing the area well from work as a surveyor, George Washington accompanied General Braddock as his aide-de-camp. Resident Daniel Morgan joined Braddock's Army as a wagoner on its march to Pennsylvania. In 1756, on land granted by James Wood, Colonel George Washington designed and began constructing Fort Loudoun , which ultimately covered 0.955 acres (3,860 m ) in present-day downtown Winchester on North Loudoun Street. Fort Loudoun
6216-408: The western end of the road by the establishment of a daily line of stages, and a regular mail service, which made connection with the Ohio steamers at Parkersburg. By 1845, there was a line of fast tri-weekly stages at Romney to the Ohio at Parkersburg. It connected at Romney with stages from Winchester, from Moorefield, and from Green Spring at which connections were made with Baltimore by trains of
6300-403: The western portion of Hampshire County, and thus adjoining Grant. They were the fifty-first and fifty-second counties in West Virginia, and only Lincoln , Summers , and Mingo were created after them. Beginning in 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into civil townships , with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872
6384-400: Was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.87. In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males. The median income for
6468-508: Was 25.0 inhabitants per square mile (9.7/km ). There were 6,366 housing units at an average density of 13.3 units per square mile (5.1 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.9% were German , 15.0% were American , 9.3% were Irish , and 5.3% were English . Of
6552-765: Was Col. Claudius Crozet , a French officer of artillery under Napoleon Bonaparte in the Russian campaign , and later professor of engineering in the United States Military Academy from 1816 to 1823. He was assisted by Charles B. Shaw." "The chosen route was through Hampshire County, West Virginia , Mineral County, West Virginia , Grant County, West Virginia , Garrett County, Maryland , Preston County, West Virginia , Taylor County, West Virginia , Harrison County, West Virginia , Doddridge County, West Virginia , Ritchie County, West Virginia , and Wood County, West Virginia . In Hampshire County it
6636-571: Was created in 1866, no Democrat has managed to receive 40 percent of the county's vote in any Presidential election. The only Republican to ever lose Grant County has been William Howard Taft in 1912 when the GOP was divided and Progressive Theodore Roosevelt claimed the majority of the county's vote. The county's Republican bent has held even in national Democratic landslides. Franklin Delano Roosevelt never tallied more than 26.8 percent of
6720-578: Was established via Capon Bridge , Hanging Rock , Pleasant Dale , and Augusta to Romney , west of which it crossed the South Branch Potomac River . Through Mineral it passed via Burlington , thence westward across Patterson Creek , and through Ridgeville on the divide to New Creek which it crossed at Rees' tannery. Then turning toward the southwest, it crossed the North Branch Potomac River southwest of
6804-408: Was finally paralleled by a railroad which diverted its travel and traffic, created rival towns, and brought pioneer prospectors and promoters who prepared the way for the later era of larger industrial development." "Although its utility was diminished by proximity to the railroad, it was still in moderate repair in the decade after the close of the war, and it has continued a constant local benefit to
6888-560: Was occupied and manned with guns until the start of the American Revolutionary War . During this era, a jail was built in Winchester. It occasionally held Quakers from many parts of Virginia who protested the French and Indian War and refused to pay taxes to the Anglican parish. While their cousins in Pennsylvania dominated politics there, Virginia was an Anglican colony and did not tolerate pacifism well. The strong Quaker tradition of pacifism against strong Virginia support for this war and
6972-481: Was renamed Apple Pie Ridge Road . The local farmers found booming business in feeding the Virginia Militia and fledgling volunteer American army. Following the war, the town's first newspapers, The Gazette and The Centinel , were established. Daniel Morgan continued his public service, being elected to one term in the U.S. House of Representatives (1797–1799). Winchester and the surrounding area were
7056-423: Was transferred to its horseless rival which, persistently overcoming obstacles and opposition, reached Cumberland by 1845, Grafton in 1852, and Parkersburg in 1857." "Supported by a sentiment that long scorned the possibility of competition and that later opposed any improved system of transportation which, by absorbing the slower traffic, might close the taverns and ruin the local market for grain and provisions, it
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