According to Educationvv, Hampshire County, West Virginia is a rural county located in the eastern panhandle of the state. With a population of approximately 23,000 people, Hampshire County is the least populated county in West Virginia. The county seat is Romney, which is also the largest town in the county. The area was first settled in 1731 and named for its original owner, Lord Fairfax who was an English nobleman and politician.
Hampshire County covers an area of 526 square miles and is bordered by Morgan County to the north, Berkeley County to the east, Mineral County to the south and Hardy County to the west. The terrain consists of rolling hills with elevations ranging from 500 feet above sea level at its lowest point to 2200 feet above sea level at its highest point. The climate in Hampshire County is generally mild with four distinct seasons and average temperatures ranging from 29°F in January to 79°F in July.
Agriculture has long been an important part of Hampshire’s economy with corn being one of the major crops grown here. Other agricultural products include hay, soybeans, wheat and livestock such as beef cattle and sheep. In addition to agriculture, Hampshire also has a thriving tourism industry that includes camping, fishing and boating on local lakes such as Lake Habeeb and recreational activities at Capon Springs Resort & Family Campground located near Romney.
Hampshire County also boasts several historical sites including Fort Mill Ridge which was used during the Civil War; Hanging Rock Battlefield where General “Stonewall” Jackson fought during his famous Valley Campaign; Augusta Stone Church which dates back to 1765; and Bloomery Iron Furnace which was built in 1831 by Thomas Bloomer for producing iron ore. These sites are popular tourist attractions that draw visitors from all over West Virginia and beyond each year.
Hampshire County offers a diverse range of activities for both residents and visitors alike making it an ideal place for those looking for a peaceful getaway or simply exploring West Virginia’s beautiful Eastern Panhandle region.
History of Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is located in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, and is the least populated county in the state. The county seat is Romney, which is also the largest town in the county. The area was first settled in 1731 and named for its original owner, Lord Fairfax who was an English nobleman and politician.
Hampshire County covers an area of 526 square miles and is bordered by Morgan County to the north, Berkeley County to the east, Mineral County to the south and Hardy County to the west. The terrain consists of rolling hills with elevations ranging from 500 feet above sea level at its lowest point to 2200 feet above sea level at its highest point. The climate in Hampshire County is generally mild with four distinct seasons and average temperatures ranging from 29°F in January to 79°F in July.
The history of Hampshire County dates back to before it was officially established as a county. Native Americans had inhabited this area since time immemorial, but it wasn’t until 1731 when it was first settled by Europeans who were led by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. In 1754, Frederick County was created by Virginia’s colonial government which included what would later become Hampshire County. It wasn’t until 1757 that Hampshire was officially established as an independent county after being separated from Frederick County due to its large size.
During the American Revolution, Hampshire saw a lot of action due to its close proximity to Washington D.C., Baltimore and other major cities which made it a strategic location for both sides during this conflict. After the war ended, Hampshire enjoyed a period of prosperity as new industries such as iron mining began popping up throughout this region which led to increased economic growth and development throughout this period of time.
By the 19th century, agriculture had become an important part of Hampshire’s economy with corn being one of the major crops grown here along with hay, soybeans and wheat while livestock such as beef cattle and sheep were also raised here too. In addition to agriculture, tourism also started becoming more popular during this time with people coming from all over West Virginia (and beyond) coming here for camping trips or recreational activities at Capon Springs Resort & Family Campground located near Romney or just enjoying all that nature has to offer here at Lake Habeeb or other local lakes around here too.
Hampshire also boasts several historical sites including Fort Mill Ridge which was used during the Civil War; Hanging Rock Battlefield where General “Stonewall” Jackson fought during his famous Valley Campaign; Augusta Stone Church which dates back to 1765; and Bloomery Iron Furnace which was built in 1831 by Thomas Bloomer for producing iron ore – all popular attractions that draw visitors from all over West Virginia each year.
Hampshire has a long rich history that spans centuries filled with both triumphs & tragedies making it a truly unique place unlike any other. Today, it continues being an ideal place for those looking for a peaceful getaway or simply exploring West Virginia’s beautiful Eastern Panhandle region – come see why so many people love living & visiting here.
Major cities and towns in Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County, West Virginia is a beautiful region located in the Eastern Panhandle of the state. It has a rich history stretching back to colonial times and is home to numerous towns and cities that offer visitors and residents alike a variety of amenities and attractions.
The largest city in Hampshire County is the county seat of Romney, with a population of around 1,800 people. It is an historic town that dates back to 1762 when it was founded by Colonel Stephen West as part of Virginia’s Northwestern Territory. Today, Romney offers a number of attractions such as the historic Augusta Stone Church, Hanging Rock Battlefield, Fort Mill Ridge, Bloomery Iron Furnace and more. The downtown area also features several shops and restaurants for visitors to explore.
Another city in Hampshire County is Capon Bridge which has an estimated population of around 500 people. This small town was originally founded in 1783 by George Washington’s brother-in-law Fielding Lewis who named it after his birthplace in England. Today, Capon Bridge offers visitors a variety of activities such as camping at Capon Springs Resort & Family Campground or fishing at nearby Lake Habeeb or other local lakes throughout the area.
The town of Augusta is another popular destination in Hampshire County with an estimated population of around 400 people. This small community was founded in 1802 by Colonel John West who named it after his daughter Augusta West who he had sent away to school in Philadelphia prior to the Revolutionary War due to its abundance of educational opportunities for young women at that time. Today, Augusta offers visitors plenty of activities such as exploring its many historical sites including Fort Mill Ridge and Bloomery Iron Furnace or taking part in recreational activities like hiking or mountain biking on nearby trails located throughout this region too.
Finally, there’s Slanesville which is considered one of the smallest towns in Hampshire County with an estimated population around 200 people. This tiny village was established back in 1820 by John Slane who named it after himself when he purchased land here from local Native Americans known as “the Six Nations” for farming purposes – primarily corn & wheat fields along with raising livestock like beef cattle & sheep too. Today, Slanesville still retains its rural charm offering visitors plenty to do such as exploring its many historical sites or enjoying outdoor activities like fishing at nearby Lake Habeeb or other local lakes throughout this region too.
Hampshire County has something for everyone from its vibrant cities and towns like Romney & Capon Bridge to smaller villages like Slanesville – come visit today and see why so many people love living & visiting here.
Airports in Hampshire County, West Virginia
According to countryaah.com, Hampshire County, West Virginia is home to a variety of airports that provide residents and visitors with easy access to their destination. Located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Hampshire County is situated between the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The county has a total area of 392 square miles and a population of 24,347 as of 2019.
The two main airports located in Hampshire County are Potomac Airfield (IATA: W45) and Winchester Regional Airport (IATA: OKV). Both airports are located within the county’s boundaries, with Potomac Airfield located in Berkeley Springs and Winchester Regional Airport being situated in Winchester.
Potomac Airfield is a public airport that features two runways – one asphalt runway measuring 3,100 feet long by 75 feet wide and another turf/grass runway measuring 2,000 feet long by 45 feet wide – as well as an aircraft parking ramp. The airport also serves as an emergency landing strip for the U.S. Air Force’s Eastern Test Range mission support operations. It can accommodate small single-engine aircraft such as Piper Cubs or Cessna 152s up to twin-engine corporate jets like Gulfstreams or Learjets.
Winchester Regional Airport is another public airport located in Winchester which features two runways – one asphalt runway measuring 6,000 feet long by 100 feet wide while the other turf/grass runway measures just over 4,200 feet long by 75 feet wide – as well as an aircraft parking ramp which can accommodate up to 50 aircraft at any given time. This airport also serves as an emergency landing strip for military operations along with providing general aviation services for local businesses and recreational flyers alike.
In addition to these two main airports, there are several other smaller airports scattered throughout Hampshire County including Berkeley Springs Municipal Airport (IATA: BGS), Capon Bridge Municipal Airport (IATA: CBE) and Romney Municipal Airport (IATA: ROM). All three of these airports offer general aviation services such as air charter services or flight training opportunities for those interested in learning how to fly planes.
All four of these aforementioned airports provide travelers with easy access to their destination whether they’re looking to travel domestically or internationally – making them ideal options for those looking to explore Hampshire County or visit friends & family living nearby. So if you’re planning on visiting this area anytime soon be sure to check out one of these great local airports before you go.
