Clarksburg, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library  Harrison County Courthouse | |
.svg) Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname: Jewel of the Hills | |
| Motto: "Proud Past...Unlimited Future" | |
 Location of Clarksburg in Harrison County, West Virginia | |
  Clarksburg  Clarksburg | |
| Coordinates:39°16′50″N80°20′40″W / 39.28056°N 80.34444°W /39.28056; -80.34444 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Harrison |
| Established | 1785 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | James Malfregeot |
| Area | |
• City | 9.71 sq mi (25.16 km2) |
| • Land | 9.71 sq mi (25.16 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 994 ft (303 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 16,039 |
• Estimate (2021)[3] | 15,784 |
| • Density | 1,567/sq mi (605.2/km2) |
| • Metro | 68,761 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 26301-26302, 26306 |
| Area code | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-15628 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1537358[4] |
| Website | Clarksburg, West Virginia |
Clarksburg is a city inHarrison County, West Virginia, United States, and itscounty seat. The population was 16,039 at the2020 census, making it thetenth-most populous city in West Virginia.[3] It is the principal city of theClarksburg micropolitan area inNorth Central West Virginia, which had a population of 90,434 in 2020.[5]
Indigenous peoples have lived in the area for thousands of years. TheOak Mounds outside Clarksburg were created by theHopewell culturemound builders between A.D. 1 and 1000.[citation needed]
The first known European visitor to the area that later became Clarksburg wasJohn Simpson,[6] atrapper, who in 1764 located his camp on theWest Fork River opposite the mouth ofElk Creek at approximately39°16′53″N80°21′05″W / 39.28128°N 80.35145°W /39.28128; -80.35145.[7]
As early as 1772, settlers began claiming lands near where Clarksburg now stands and building cabins. In 1773, Major Daniel Davisson (1748–1819) took up 400 acres (1.6 km2), upon which the principal part of the town is now located. By 1774, those settling near present Clarksburg included Daniel, Obadiah, and Amaziah Davisson, Thomas, John, and Matthew Nutter, Samuel and Andrew Cottrill, Sotha Hickman, and Samuel Beard. Others likely settled on public lands without record.[6]
TheVirginia General Assembly authorized the town of Clarksburg in 1785. It is named forGeorge Rogers Clark, a Virginian whose Revolutionary War campaigns included the capture ofVincennes in 1778.[8] In 1786, the Assembly authorized a road fromWinchester, Virginia toMorgantown that later tied into what became theNorthwestern Turnpike. In 1787, it chartered the Randolph Academy at Clarksburg, a private school led by Rev. George Towers and the first west of the Alleghenies.[9]
Construction of the first Harrison County courthouse began in 1787. Four larger courthouses followed, the most recent completed in 1932. The first stood at the northeast corner of Second and Main Streets, with the jail opposite on Main Street.[9]
Transportation improvements accelerated development. TheNorthwestern Turnpike reached Clarksburg in the 1830s, stagecoach service toParkersburg began in 1840, and theBaltimore and Ohio Railroad reached the city fromGrafton in 1856.[9]
Two notable early landmarks survive from this era: theStealey–Goff–Vance House (1807, expanded 1891, NRHP 1979) andWaldomore (begun 1839, public library 1931–1976, NRHP 1978).[9]
At theVirginia Secession Convention of 1861, Harrison County delegatesJohn S. Carlile andBenjamin Wilson took opposing paths. Carlile helped lead theWheeling Convention and was appointed U.S. senator by theRestored Government of Virginia, later opposing the West Virginia statehood bill. Wilson abstained on April 17, then signed the secession ordinance, was arrested by Union forces and released, and later served as a U.S. senator from West Virginia.[10][11]
Union General McClellan established his headquarters near Clarksburg until theFirst Battle of Bull Run. The B&O line made the city an important Union supply base, with more than 7,000 troops at one point. Confederate raiders struck the region but did not take the city. TheJones–Imboden Raid of April and May 1863 sought to impede recognition of West Virginia, which became the 35th state in June 1863.[9]
The wartime influx of troops and demand for goods stimulated the local economy, while debates over slavery and secession heightened political tensions.[12]
In 1877, Clarksburg was one of three cities on the ballot for state capital. Despite an early lead, it finished second andCharleston became the capital.[13]
Industry expanded in the late 19th century, particularly glass and coal.[14] The Despard Building dates to 1870. Telephone service, the first in the state, arrived in the mid-1880s. In 1887 the city laid six miles of water lines and in 1889 installed electric street lighting. A late-1890s visitor nevertheless called Clarksburg a "sleepy, moss-covered town."[15]
Clarksburg's boom years began around the turn of the century, as coal and glass production increased. Population grew from 4,050 in 1900 to 27,869 in 1920, aided by 1917 annexations of Adamston, Stealey, North View, and Broad Oaks. It may have reached 35,000 in 1929 before theGreat Depression.[16]
The period saw extensive civic and commercial construction. The Traders' Hotel rose in 1894. Sewer lines were installed in 1900, and Main and Pike streets were paved with brick. The city's first trolley opened in 1901 and operated until 1947. Merchants Smith, Brown and Company built an early department store beginning in 1890. The Northwestern Academy was razed in 1894 and the Towers School erected. Merchants National Bank built a structure in 1894 that later became the Community Bank. Empire National Bank built a seven-story headquarters in 1907. Other significant buildings include the Goff Building (1911), Municipal Building (1888), the Waldo Hotel (1901–1904), Robinson Grand (1912, 1940), Harrison County Courthouse (1931–1932), U.S. Post Office (1932), Masonic Temple (1911–1914), First United Presbyterian Church (1894), and First Methodist Church (1909, 1956).[17][16]
Automobiles reached Clarksburg by 1902.U.S. Route 50 was paved through the city in 1928, andInterstate 79 opened in 1979, connecting Clarksburg with Charleston and Pennsylvania. In 1924, the city hosted a parade for “native son”John W. Davis, the Democratic presidential nominee. The following year, former U.S. Secretary of AgricultureHoward M. Gore became Governor of West Virginia. During the 1920s, Clarksburg'sMelville Davisson Post (1869–1930) was among the nation’s highest paid authors, known for Randolph Mason andUncle Abner.[16]
As theGreat Depression began, the Farmers Bank closed in 1929 and the Bank of West Virginia failed in 1933. The population dropped to 30,579 by 1940 and further as the decade progressed. Former Gov. Gore later served as state agricultural commissioner (1931–33) and as Public Service Commissioner (1941–47).[18]
Clarksburg avoided the worst urban blight and preserved much of its boom-era architecture. The West Virginia Preservation Alliance, the state's first, was created in Clarksburg in 1981.[16]
On October 11, 1996, seven men with connections to theMountaineer Militia, a local anti-governmentparamilitary group, were arrested on charges of plotting to bomb theFederal Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Justice Information Services Division complex in Clarksburg. Militia leaderFloyd Raymond Looker obtained blueprints of the FBI facility from a Clarksburg firefighter and arranged to sell them for $50,000 to anundercover FBI agent. Plastic explosives were confiscated at five locations in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In 1998, Looker was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Two other defendants were sentenced on explosives charges, and the firefighter received a year in prison for providing the blueprints.[19]
Clarksburg is located along theWest Fork River andElk Creek.[20]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.74 square miles (25.23 km2), all land.[21]
Clarksburg is located in West Virginia'sNorth-Central region. It lies within theecoregion of theWestern Allegheny Plateau.[22]
Clarksburg had ahumid continental climate if one considers the 0 °C isotherm. The latest temperature numbers have the climate ashumid subtropical (Cfa). To the molds ofKöppen the climate may be considered the southern boundary of theDfb zone at low altitudes in theNorth American continent (limit of 39 ° N), although in the immediate vicinity it isDfa.[23] The city still suffers strong influences from the south, especially from theGulf of Mexico but due to its location has a much more significant influence of the cold air intrusion ofCanada, where it is not protected by theAppalachians. The extent further to the south is due to the eastern and southeastern mountain ranges blocking the oceanic influence in part, even if it is minimal anyway by the considerable distance from the coast. At the same time it can be classified asCfa or hybrid of different climatic zones according to the criterion to be surveyed,[24] a situation similar to that ofBoston.[23] It is theDfb boundary throughout the northern hemisphere if it is to be disregarded in elevated regions on all continents. The southern record could appear on theKorean peninsula but the dry season defined version (Dwb) predominates in these locations.[25] The average temperature is 52.2 °F (11.2 °C) with a high average of 63.3 °F (17.4 °C) and a low average of 41.1 °F (5.1 °C). It has 45.6 inches (1,160 mm) of rain with peak in May (4.8 inches or 122 mm) and lower value in February with 3.2 inches (81 mm). The amount of total snow is 25 inches (64 cm), with highest values between January and February, 8 inches (20 cm) in total for each month. Since the season of snowfall goes from November to March.[26]
Record temperatures range from −24 °F (−31 °C) onJanuary 19, 1994, up to 102 °F (39 °C) as recently as September 3 and 4, 1953.[27]
| Climate data forClarksburg Benedum Airport, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1922–present)[a] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) | 79 (26) | 88 (31) | 95 (35) | 96 (36) | 100 (38) | 102 (39) | 101 (38) | 102 (39) | 95 (35) | 85 (29) | 78 (26) | 102 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 65.2 (18.4) | 66.8 (19.3) | 76.1 (24.5) | 84.0 (28.9) | 87.8 (31.0) | 90.6 (32.6) | 91.8 (33.2) | 90.9 (32.7) | 88.9 (31.6) | 82.0 (27.8) | 74.7 (23.7) | 67.0 (19.4) | 92.7 (33.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.6 (5.9) | 45.6 (7.6) | 54.7 (12.6) | 67.6 (19.8) | 75.7 (24.3) | 82.5 (28.1) | 85.5 (29.7) | 84.6 (29.2) | 78.9 (26.1) | 67.6 (19.8) | 56.0 (13.3) | 46.6 (8.1) | 65.7 (18.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.9) | 36.1 (2.3) | 44.1 (6.7) | 55.3 (12.9) | 63.9 (17.7) | 71.3 (21.8) | 74.8 (23.8) | 73.6 (23.1) | 67.2 (19.6) | 55.8 (13.2) | 45.7 (7.6) | 37.8 (3.2) | 54.9 (12.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.6 (−4.1) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 33.4 (0.8) | 43.1 (6.2) | 52.0 (11.1) | 60.2 (15.7) | 64.2 (17.9) | 62.7 (17.1) | 55.4 (13.0) | 44.1 (6.7) | 35.5 (1.9) | 29.0 (−1.7) | 44.2 (6.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 1.3 (−17.1) | 6.2 (−14.3) | 13.4 (−10.3) | 25.8 (−3.4) | 34.8 (1.6) | 45.6 (7.6) | 52.7 (11.5) | 51.0 (10.6) | 40.8 (4.9) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 10.5 (−11.9) | −1.6 (−18.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −24 (−31) | −23 (−31) | −18 (−28) | 7 (−14) | 23 (−5) | 33 (1) | 41 (5) | 39 (4) | 29 (−2) | 14 (−10) | −2 (−19) | −13 (−25) | −24 (−31) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.30 (84) | 3.14 (80) | 3.62 (92) | 3.89 (99) | 4.25 (108) | 4.54 (115) | 5.40 (137) | 3.62 (92) | 3.51 (89) | 3.02 (77) | 3.17 (81) | 3.38 (86) | 44.84 (1,139) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 15.1 | 13.5 | 14.1 | 14.6 | 15.8 | 14.2 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 13.3 | 13.6 | 11.1 | 14.3 | 168.4 |
| Source: NOAA[27][29] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Clarksburg 1 (near city center), West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1922–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) | 79 (26) | 88 (31) | 95 (35) | 96 (36) | 100 (38) | 102 (39) | 101 (38) | 102 (39) | 94 (34) | 85 (29) | 78 (26) | 102 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 65.2 (18.4) | 66.8 (19.3) | 76.1 (24.5) | 84.0 (28.9) | 87.8 (31.0) | 90.6 (32.6) | 91.8 (33.2) | 90.9 (32.7) | 88.9 (31.6) | 82.0 (27.8) | 74.7 (23.7) | 67.0 (19.4) | 92.7 (33.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39.7 (4.3) | 43.2 (6.2) | 52.2 (11.2) | 65.4 (18.6) | 74.7 (23.7) | 82.1 (27.8) | 85.1 (29.5) | 83.6 (28.7) | 77.4 (25.2) | 65.6 (18.7) | 53.4 (11.9) | 44.0 (6.7) | 63.9 (17.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.7 (−0.7) | 33.3 (0.7) | 41.0 (5.0) | 52.3 (11.3) | 62.2 (16.8) | 70.3 (21.3) | 74.0 (23.3) | 72.6 (22.6) | 65.9 (18.8) | 53.9 (12.2) | 42.6 (5.9) | 35.3 (1.8) | 52.8 (11.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.7 (−5.7) | 23.4 (−4.8) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 39.1 (3.9) | 49.6 (9.8) | 58.5 (14.7) | 63.0 (17.2) | 61.7 (16.5) | 54.5 (12.5) | 42.1 (5.6) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 41.8 (5.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 1.3 (−17.1) | 6.2 (−14.3) | 13.4 (−10.3) | 25.8 (−3.4) | 34.8 (1.6) | 45.6 (7.6) | 52.7 (11.5) | 51.0 (10.6) | 40.8 (4.9) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 10.5 (−11.9) | −1.6 (−18.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −24 (−31) | −23 (−31) | −18 (−28) | 7 (−14) | 23 (−5) | 33 (1) | 41 (5) | 39 (4) | 29 (−2) | 14 (−10) | −2 (−19) | −13 (−25) | −24 (−31) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.54 (90) | 3.39 (86) | 4.17 (106) | 4.08 (104) | 4.78 (121) | 4.85 (123) | 5.33 (135) | 3.96 (101) | 3.67 (93) | 3.34 (85) | 3.32 (84) | 3.81 (97) | 48.24 (1,225) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.9 (20) | 7.8 (20) | 3.5 (8.9) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (1.8) | 3.8 (9.7) | 23.8 (60) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 15.6 | 13.9 | 14.2 | 14.2 | 15.0 | 12.7 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 10.1 | 11.6 | 12.3 | 15.3 | 158.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 4.9 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 14.6 |
| Source:NOAA[27][30] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 895 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,307 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,008 | 30.4% | |
| 1900 | 4,050 | 34.6% | |
| 1910 | 9,201 | 127.2% | |
| 1920 | 27,869 | 202.9% | |
| 1930 | 28,866 | 3.6% | |
| 1940 | 30,579 | 5.9% | |
| 1950 | 32,014 | 4.7% | |
| 1960 | 28,112 | −12.2% | |
| 1970 | 24,864 | −11.6% | |
| 1980 | 22,371 | −10.0% | |
| 1990 | 18,059 | −19.3% | |
| 2000 | 16,743 | −7.3% | |
| 2010 | 16,578 | −1.0% | |
| 2020 | 16,039 | −3.3% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 15,784 | [3] | −1.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[31] | |||
As of the2020 census, there were 16,061 people and 6,588 households residing in the city. There were 8,129 housing units in Clarksburg. The racial makeup of the city was 88%White, 3.9%African American, 0.5%Asian, 0.2%Native American, 0.9% fromother races, and 6.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3% of the population.
There were 6,588 households, of which 37.4% weremarried couples living together, 35.2% had a female householder with no spouse present, 20.4% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average household and family size was 3.3. The median age in the city was 39.7 years.[32]
As of thecensus[2] of 2010, there were 16,578 people, 7,213 households, and 4,179 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,702.1 inhabitants per square mile (657.2/km2). There were 8,132 housing units at an average density of 834.9 per square mile (322.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.9%White, 3.9%African American, 0.2%Native American, 0.3%Asian, 0.3% fromother races, and 2.4% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 7,213 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% weremarried couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.1% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.91.
The median age in the city was 39.5 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 16,743 people, 7,447 households, and 4,378 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,758.3 inhabitants per square mile (678.9/km2). There were 8,662 housing units at an average density of 909.7 per square mile (351.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.86%White, 3.83%African American, 0.13%Native American, 0.36%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 0.44% fromother races, and 1.34% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people were 1.06% of the population.
There were 7,447 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% weremarried couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,722, and the median income for a family was $35,075. Males had a median income of $30,194 versus $22,388 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $17,587. About 14.8% of families and 19.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Clarksburg’s economy historically centered on manufacturing, glass production, and transportation. The city’s location along major rail lines and its proximity to natural gas and raw materials attracted industries such as chemical plants, brickworks, potteries, foundries, machine shops, hardwood and casket companies, and several major glass factories. Among these were theAkro-Agate marble company, theHazel-Atlas Glass Company, theRolland Glass Company, and the Jackson (later Phillips) Sheet and Tin Plate Company, an early forerunner ofWeirton Steel. Economic growth brought successive waves of immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries, includingIrish,Italians,Greeks,French,Belgians, andSpanish.[9]
During the early 20th century Clarksburg became one of the nation’s foremost glass-making centers.Akro Agate relocated from Akron, Ohio, in 1914 and became famous for colorful marbles and pressed-glass housewares, producing more than two million marbles per week at its peak.Hazel-Atlas Glass Company operated the world’s largest tumbler factory in Clarksburg, employing more than 1,000 people by 1920. TheRolland Glass Company, founded in 1921 by Albert Rolland, produced fine tableware and stemware until its closure in 1985. Other firms included the Clarksburg Glass Company, National Bottle Company, Diamond Glass Company, and West Virginia Glass Specialty Company. Collectors continue to prize Clarksburg glass products for their craftsmanship and color.[33][34][35]
By 1929 Clarksburg reached its peak population of more than 35,000 residents. TheGreat Depression and mid-century industrial decline reduced employment, but the city remained an important transportation and distribution hub duringWorld War II. Construction ofInterstate 79 and the four-laneU.S. Route 50 in the 1970s reconnected Clarksburg to major markets and encouraged suburban retail growth, particularly at the Eastpointe and Newpointe shopping centers along the interstate.
Federal and technology employment expanded in the 1990s, highlighted by the opening of theFBI’sCriminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) complex in 1995. The $200-million facility, located on 986 acres (399 ha), serves as the national repository for the FBI’s criminal justice records and remains one of the largest employers in north-central West Virginia.[36]
In 1975 Clarksburg opened a new public library designed by architectMarcel Breuer, adding another distinctive element to its architecturally rich downtown.[37] The city today relies primarily on government, health care, education, and professional services. Downtown now hosts law offices, financial institutions, and cultural venues, while retail activity has largely relocated to the interstate corridor. Clarksburg also supports a daily newspaper, theExponent-Telegram, several local television stations, and six radio outlets.[38]
Clarksburg serves as a cultural center for north-central West Virginia, noted for its historic architecture, festivals, and performing-arts venues.[39]
Since 1979, the city has hosted the annualWest Virginia Italian Heritage Festival duringLabor Day weekend, one of the state’s major cultural events. Each September since 1991, Clarksburg has also held theWest Virginia Black Heritage Festival, celebrating African-American history and culture in the region.[40]
Faith-based and arts programming have expanded in recent years. The downtownJesus Fest WV features Christian music and community outreach each August,[41] while theRobinson Grand Performing Arts Center—originally opened in 1913 and restored in 2018—hosts touring performances and local productions, including theBorn & Bred Concert Series highlighting West Virginia musicians.[42] Since 2023 the city has also been home to theMTN Craft Film Festival, which showcases Appalachian-themed and independent films.[43]
TheClarksburg Amphitheater atVeterans Memorial Park provides an outdoor venue for concerts and community events, and theWaldomore hosts lectures and genealogy programs through theClarksburg-Harrison Public Library.[44]
Recreational traditions are another part of the city’s identity. TheGreater Clarksburg 10K, established in 1997 and renamed in 2007 in memory of journalist J. Cecil Jarvis, serves as the official West Virginia 10K State Championship.[45]
Clarksburg sits at the crossroads ofU.S. Route 50 (part of theAppalachian Corridor D) andInterstate 79. Other major highways serving the city includeWest Virginia Route 20,West Virginia Route 58,U.S. Route 19,West Virginia Route 98, andWest Virginia Route 279.
TheNorthwestern Turnpike—chartered in 1827 and begun in 1831—reached Clarksburg in 1836 and wasmacadamized from theTygart Valley River toParkersburg by 1848.[46] TheBaltimore and Ohio Railroad extended its line fromGrafton to Clarksburg in 1856, making the city an important regional shipping and transportation center.[47]
Interstate 79
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 19
West Virginia Route 20
West Virginia Route 58
West Virginia Route 98
West Virginia Route 279Air service is available throughNorth Central West Virginia Airport, located about 7 miles (11 km) east of downtown Clarksburg nearBridgeport.[48]
For a comprehensive list, seeList of people from Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Several notable individuals in American politics, science, and the arts were born in or have strong ties to Clarksburg. The city was the birthplace ofThomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, Confederate general during theAmerican Civil War, andJohn W. Davis, the 1924 Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.[49]
AuthorMelville Davisson Post, a pioneer of the American detective story and creator of theUncle Abner series, was also born in Clarksburg.[50]
Cyrus Vance, born in Clarksburg in 1917, served as U.S. Secretary of State under PresidentJimmy Carter.[51]
NASA mathematicianKatherine Johnson, whose story was dramatized in the filmHidden Figures, attended the former Kelly Miller High School in Clarksburg before graduating fromWest Virginia State University.[52]
Baseball Hall of FamerBill Mazeroski was raised in Clarksburg and graduated fromWheeling Central Catholic High School, going on to hit the winning home run in the1960 World Series.[53]
Places adjacent to Clarksburg, West Virginia | |
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