EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA

The 'Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia' is a narrow stretch of territory in the northeast of the state, bordering Maryland and Virginia, USA. It comprises the following eight counties:

★ 'Berkeley'

★ 'Grant'

★ 'Hampshire'

★ 'Hardy'

★ 'Jefferson'

★ 'Mineral'

★ 'Morgan'

★ 'Pendleton'

Contents

History

Population

Population growth

Housing growth

Largest cities

Statistical areas

County information

Panhandle trivia

Potomac Highlands

Panhandle communities and sites

History

Population

According to the 2000 Census, the eight counties of the Eastern Panhandle had a combined population of 212,483 giving the region 11.75% of West Virginia's population. Berkeley County is the Panhandle's most populous county with 93,394 residents (2005); in 2006 estimated 97,534 residents. Berkeley also includes the Panhandle's largest city, Martinsburg, with a population of 15,996 (2005). The city has a metro of 43,000.

Population growth

County	2005 (estimate)	2000	1990	1980	1970	1960	1950
'Berkeley'	'93,394'	75,905	59,253	46,846	36,356	33,791	30,359
'Grant'	'11,673'	11,299	10,428	10,218	8,607	8,304	8,756
'Hampshire'	'22,025'	20,203	16,498	14,867	11,710	11,705	12,577
'Hardy'	'13,287'	12,669	10,977	10,051	8,855	9,308	10,032
'Jefferson'	'49,206'	42,190	35,926	30,311	21,280	18,665	17,184
'Mineral'	'27,028'	27,078	26,697	27,159	23,109	22,354	22,333
'Morgan'	'16,022'	14,943	12,128	10,696	8,547	8,376	8,276
'Pendleton'	'7,844'	8,196	8,054	7,935	7,031	8,093	9,313
'TOTAL'	'240,479'	212,483	179,961	158,083	125,495	120,596	118,830

Housing growth

The Eastern Panhandle is West Virginia's fastest growing region in terms of population and housing growth. In July 2005, the United States Census Bureau released a list of the top 100 counties according to housing growth. Berkeley County grew 3.95 percent, from 36,365 housing units in 2003 to 37,802 units in 2004. That growth rate was 86th in the nation among the 3,141 United States counties. Jefferson County was not far behind at 88th in the nation. It grew 3.94 percent from 19,381 housing units in 2003 to 20,144 units in 2004.

Largest cities

The majority of the Eastern Panhandle's growing residential developments are located outside of city and town boundaries and therefore not included in the city or town's official population.

City	2005 (estimate)	2000	1990	County
'Martinsburg'	'15,996'	14,972	14,073	Berkeley
'Keyser'	'5,410'	5,303	5,870	Mineral
'Ranson'	'3,793'	2,951	2,890	Jefferson
'Charles Town'	'3,704'	2,907	3,122	Jefferson
'Petersburg'	'2,634'	2,423	2,360	Grant

Statistical areas

Several counties in the Eastern Panhandle are part of metropolitan, micropolitan, and consolidated metropolitan statistical areas defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget.

MSA/CMSA	Population (2000)	WV Counties
'Cumberland MD-WV MSA'	102,008	Mineral
'Hagerstown-Martinsburg MD-WV MSA'	222,771	Berkeley, Morgan
'Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA'	4,796,183	Hampshire, Jefferson
'Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA'	7,538,385	Berkeley, Jefferson
'Winchester, VA-WV MSA'	102,997	Hampshire

County information

County	Named For	Founded	Seat
'Berkeley'	Norborne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt	February 1772	Martinsburg
'Grant'	Ulysses Simpson Grant	February 14, 1866	Petersburg
'Hampshire'	County of Hampshire, England	December 13, 1753	Romney
'Hardy'	Samuel Hardy	December 10, 1785	Moorefield
'Jefferson'	Thomas Jefferson	January 8, 1801	Charles Town
'Mineral'	minerals located in the county	February 1, 1866	Keyser
'Morgan'	General Daniel Morgan	February 9, 1820	Berkeley Springs
'Pendleton'	Edmund Pendleton	December 4, 1787	Franklin

Panhandle trivia

★ The Eastern Panhandle includes West Virginia's oldest chartered towns (1762) of Romney and Shepherdstown. The Panhandle also includes West Virginia's two oldest counties: Hampshire (1753) and Berkeley (1772).

★ The Eastern Panhandle also includes both West Virginia's highest and lowest elevations above sea level: Spruce Knob, 4,863 feet (1,482 m), in Pendleton and Harpers Ferry, 240 feet (73 m), in Jefferson on the Potomac River.

★ West Virginia's only natural lake, Trout Pond, is located in the Panhandle's Hardy County near Wardensville.

★ Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties were forced to reluctantly join the new Unionist state of West Virginia in 1863 so that the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad along the Potomac River would remain safely in Union hands. Shortly after West Virginia gained statehood, Mineral and Grant counties were created from Hampshire and Hardy in 1866.

★ As of August 2006, the Eastern Panhandle has 249 (27.09%) of West Virginia's 919 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Berkeley County has the most at 106 properties listed.

★ These 8 counties also make up RESA VIII of West Virginia's Education System.

Potomac Highlands

Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, and Pendleton Counties also belong to another geographical region of West Virginia known as the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia.

Panhandle communities and sites

★ List of communities in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia

★ List of historic sites in Berkeley County, West Virginia

★ List of historic sites in Hampshire County, West Virginia

★ List of historic sites in Hardy County, West Virginia

★ List of historic sites in Morgan County, West Virginia