Hampshire County West Virginia

The Hampshire County Courthouse is located on East Main Street, Romney WV 26757; phone: 304-822-5022.

Beginnings [1]

Hampshire county, the oldest in West Virginia, was formed in 1754. It then included nearly all the valley of the South branch, and its limits westward were not defined. The present county of Mineral and a portion of Morgan were then in Hampshire. In 1785 Hardy county, including the present territory of Grant and part of Pendleton, was taken from Hampshire. In 1820 Morgan county was created, taking part of its territory; and in 1866 Mineral was, formed from Hampshire. Thus the old 'county was reduced to its present limits. In 1784 its area was two thousand eight hundred square miles, with about fourteen thousand population. Its area is now six hundred and thirty square miles with about thirteen thousand population. In writing the present history no labor or expense has been spared. The aim has constantly been to present a faithful narrative of events, beginning with the earliest explorations and settlements and leading down to the present 'time. In order to present occurrences in their proper sequence and relation, the work has been divided into three parts. The first considers the county of Hampshire as one in a group of counties forming the state. Many features of history cannot be adequately considered if restricted to a single county because they concern the whole state.

1. Transcribed from: Maxwell, Hu and Swisher, H. L., History of Hampshire County West Virginia: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present, 1897, A. Brown Boughner, Printer, Morgantown W.V.