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West-virginia-encyclopedia-text

Jefferson County

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1742

First iron furnace in West Virginia was established by Thomas Mayberry at Bloomery near present Harpers Ferry; the Quaker William Vestal erected Vestal's Bloomery near the Shenandoah River in present Jefferson County; iron industry develops

Other events that happened on or around 1742

1749

Lord Fairfax and Joist Hite engaged in a lawsuit

Other events that happened on or around 1749

Dec 23, 1762

Romney and Shepherdstown were both chartered, West Virginia's oldest cities

Other events that happened on or around December 23, 1762

1786

City of Charles Town was established by Charles Washington

Other events that happened on or around 1786

1799

The U.S. Armory and Arsenal was established at Harpers Ferry

Other events that happened on or around 1799

Oct 26, 1801

Jefferson County was established from a portion of Berkeley County by the General Assembly

1825

City of Bolivar was established

Other events that happened on or around 1825

1837

The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad arrived at Harpers Ferry

1850

Reported number of slaves in Jefferson County was 3,960, 27% of the population

Other events that happened on or around 1850

1851

City of Harpers Ferry was established

Other events that happened on or around 1851

1858

Martin Delany aided John Brown in convening the Chatham Convention

Other events that happened on or around 1858

1859

Martin Robison Delany and 34 others met with John Brown in Canada to develop a provisional constitution for the liberated slaves

Other events that happened on or around 1859

1863

The presence of the B&O influenced the decision to include Jefferson County in the new state

Other events that happened on or around 1863

1865

Union authorities moved Jefferson County seat from Charles Town to Shepherdstown

Other events that happened on or around 1865

Mar 07, 1866

Joint resolution of Congress confirmed transfer of Berkeley and Jefferson counties to West Virginia

1871

Shepherd College opened

1871

Jefferson County seat moved back to Charles Town after being in Shepherdstown

Other events that happened on or around 1871

1910

City of Ranson was established

Other events that happened on or around 1910

1922

Bill Blizzard and others were tried for treason at the Jefferson County courthouse

Other events that happened on or around 1922

1933

The Charles Town Racetrack opened in Jefferson County

Other events that happened on or around 1933

Jun 30, 1944

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park was authorized as a national monument, the first in West Virginia

1960

Storer College buildings were added to the Harpers Ferry National Park

Other events that happened on or around 1960

Dec 15, 1997

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown

Other events that happened on or around December 15, 1997


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