MORGAN COUNTY, WV
County Offices
77 Fairfax Street
Berkeley Springs WV 304-258-8547
http://morgancountywv.gov
Chamber of Commerce
127 Fairfax Street
Berkeley Springs WV 304-258-3738
www.berkeleyspringschamber.com
Without a doubt, water is Morgan County’s claim to fame. Yes, the border that defines the county from Maryland is the Potomac River. However, it is the mineral waters that bubble from the ground at Berkeley Springs that have attracted visitors since the Native Americans first stopped to explore the water’s magical qualities. Today, the state manages a park in Berkeley Springs where residents and visitors alike can enjoy mineral and Roman baths, massages, heat treatments, swimming – or just a glass of refreshing spring water.
In addition to the healing properties of natural spring waters, Morgan County offers crisp, clean mountain air. Hardwood and pine forests cover over 80 percent of the county’s land area, creating lush woodland homesites graced by unparalleled natural beauty. Berkeley Springs, which serves as the county seat, is the principle town in this primarily rural area.
Economy and Transportation
Commerce in Morgan County revolves around tourism. The majority of services and businesses cater to the many visitors who come to relax and rejuvenate in this nurturing, healthy environment. Over 300 locally owned business form the lifeblood of the county’s economy, including a close-knit collection of retail shops, galleries and services in downtown Berkeley Springs. Businesses that provide massage treatments, homeopathic medicine, acupuncture therapy and herbal baths are not tucked away in unobtrusive corners. In Morgan County, these holistic practitioners are a vital part of the community and the local economy.
In addition to shops and services, the county is a vital distribution center and home to productive farms, orchards and forests. Both the headquarters and mining operations of the Pennsylvania Glass Sand Corporation are located here, as well as T.H. Compton Trucking, Vanguard Products, Seely Pine Furniture and West Virginia Spring Water. The robust economy is enhanced by a strong transportation network, including excellent roads that form connections to Interstates 70 and 81, rail lines along the northern sector, and a private airport for small planes and jet traffic.
Education and Healthcare
The fact that residents of Morgan County place a high priority on education is evident in the financial support that the schools enjoy. Approximately 80 percent of the property taxes are dedicated to public schools, where students receive a quality education from kindergarten through high school.
Higher education is available at nearby Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Shenandoah College in Winchester, Virginia; Hagerstown Junior College in Hagerstown, Maryland; and Potomac State College in Keyser, West Virginia. The James Rumsey Vocational/Technical Center provides a wealth of adult continuing education classes, specialized training, personal interest courses, and career programs.
State-of-the-art healthcare is available close to home in Morgan County, where the War Memorial Hospital provides 24-hour emergency service and the latest in treatment and diagnostics. Although a number of regional hospitals and nationally acclaimed medical centers are available in surrounding metropolitan areas such as Baltimore and Washington, DC, the local hospital schedules regular visits by leading specialists.
Lifestyle
Throughout the centuries, Berkeley Springs has managed to remain true to its roots as a resort frequented by George Washington himself. A number of private and state-operated spas, lavish resorts, beautiful parks, shops and galleries combine to form an idyllic atmosphere. Mixing natural beauty with tranquility, this area has developed a cultural community of artists and craftspeople who prefer to work free of distractions. An active Arts Council and the Coolfont Foundation ensure that musical concerts, performances and dances are all a part of the fabric of daily life.
The entire community will greet you at the Apple Butter Festival each Columbus Day weekend. As a mainstay of the county’s agricultural income, the apple orchards that dot the countryside inspire a harvest celebration like no other. Imagine living in an area where hiking trails, swimming facilities, revitalizing spa services, golf courses and first-class dining experiences are just beyond your front doorstep. Those who prefer to relax in totally natural surroundings will want to explore the vast trails, vistas and open spaces of Cacapon State Park or Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area.
As the Eastern Panhandle’s most sparsely populated region, Morgan County offers a wide selection of vacation cottages, retirement havens and single-family homes in a variety of architectural styles and price ranges. Stately old farm houses are waiting for restoration, and open land or wooded lots are ready for development. Contractors abound, and modest building codes encourage innovations like solar or wood-heated homes.
Convenient to commercial centers like Martinsburg and Hagerstown, Morgan County provides a wholesome and slow-paced lifestyle without a feeling of isolation from job markets or vital interstates. Friendliness is the keynote of every community, where strong traditions and civic pride are evident at every turn. Whether your dream is a log cabin on the river, a cozy cottage with a large garden or a mountainside country estate – it can come true in Morgan County.
Berkeley Springs (Bath)
Town Offices
304-258-9147
www.berkeleysprings.com
Chamber of Commerce
304-258-3738
www.berkeleyspringschamber.com
Berkeley Springs or Bath is known for the warm mineral springs that bubble up in the tiny Berkeley State Park in the heart of the community. The town of 756 residents has not only survived for three centuries as a spa and vacation center, it ranks as one of the nation’s most popular health resort destinations. With its friendly atmosphere, bevy of outstanding shops and restaurants, and a housing selection that is both affordable and attractive, Berkeley Springs offers the best of all worlds. Less than two hours from the world-class cultural and educational amenities of metropolitan Baltimore and Washington, DC, the town is surrounded by pristine woodland and open space. Among the premier recreational opportunities are stocked lakes and streams for fishing; trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing; and unspoiled parkland for camping.
Paw Paw
Further west from Berkeley Springs along the curving Potomac River is the town of Paw Paw, named for the unique fruit that grows abundantly in this area and home to 836 residents. The small but closely knit community has formed a strong sense of identity and a reputation for self-reliance. Major industries include the Consolidated Orchards and Vesuvius Crucible, although prime industrial site is available and poised for growth and expansion. Paw Paw serves as a bedroom community for many residents who are employed in nearby Romney, West Virginia; Cumberland, Maryland; or Winchester, Virginia. The nearby C & O Canal that stretches over 100 miles west from Washington, DC, cuts through Sorrell Ridge under the famous Paw Paw Tunnel, open only to pedestrians and cyclists. Outstanding recreational opportunities are available close to home, including fishing lakes, swimming and boating areas, hiking/biking trails, and Cacapon State Park with its championship golf course designed by legendary Robert Trent Jones.
