Clarksburg history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Clarksburg is deeply rooted in the era of western territory exploration. The first settlers began to establish themselves on these lands around 1773. The city was officially established in October 1785 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly.

The city received its name in honour of General George Rogers Clark, a renowned military commander and explorer who played a significant role in the region's history. This name symbolized the residents' respect for the heroes of the nation's formative period.

Key Factors of Development

The development of Clarksburg from a small settlement into a significant city was driven by several strategic advantages:

• Geographical Location: The city grew at the confluence of the West Fork River and Elk Creek, which provided residents with water and energy for the first watermills.
• Administrative Status: Clarksburg immediately became the centre of Harrison County. The location of the courthouse and administrative institutions attracted lawyers, politicians, and business people.
• Transport Routes: The construction of the Northwestern Turnpike in the first half of the 19th century turned the city into an important transport hub connecting Winchester and Parkersburg.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

In the early period of its history, Clarksburg was distinguished by a high level of culture and education compared to neighbouring frontier settlements. As early as 1787, the Randolph Academy was established here — the first educational institution west of the Allegheny Mountains, which attracted educated families to the city.

The city's economy was initially built on agriculture, livestock, and trade. Thanks to its status as a county seat, Clarksburg became a point of attraction for farmers and artisans who exchanged their goods here, laying the foundation for the future industrial growth of the region.

Major Milestones in the City's History

The history of Clarksburg is a journey from a small frontier settlement to an important industrial and administrative centre of West Virginia.

• 1773 — The first settlers began to develop lands in the area of the confluence of the West Fork River and Elk Creek, laying the foundations of the future city.
• 1785 — The Virginia General Assembly officially established Clarksburg, granting it the status of the administrative centre of Harrison County.
• 1787 — Opening of the Randolph Academy, the first educational institution of such a level west of the Allegheny Mountains.
• 1830s — An important transport artery passed through the city — the Northwestern Turnpike, stimulating the development of trade.
• 1856 — The arrival of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad opened the region for large-scale resource export.
• 1863 — Clarksburg became part of the new state of West Virginia, formed during administrative-territorial changes.
• End of the 19th Century — The discovery of coal, oil, and natural gas reserves led to a rapid industrial boom and population growth.
• 1900 — The beginning of active development of the glass industry, thanks to which the city soon gained fame as a major centre for glass production.
• 1924 — A Clarksburg native, politician John W. Davis, became a US presidential candidate, attracting nationwide attention to the city.
• 1960s — A period of modernizing urban infrastructure and updating the architectural appearance of central districts.
• 1979 — The completion of key sections of the Interstate 79 (I-79) highway significantly improved the transport accessibility of the region.
• 1995 — Opening of the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division complex, which became the largest employer and a technological hub.
• 2000s — Active implementation of programmes to preserve historical heritage and revitalize the city centre to attract tourists.

Key Stages of the City's Transformation

The development of Clarksburg can be divided into several significant periods, each of which radically changed the appearance and way of life of the city. Below are the main milestones that formed the modern portrait of this corner of West Virginia:

• Railroad Breakthrough (mid-19th century). The arrival of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad was the catalyst for transforming the city from an isolated settlement into a powerful logistics hub.
  Significance: This ensured access to eastern markets and made Clarksburg a strategically important supply point, which accelerated urbanization and the influx of capital.
• Industrialization and Energy Boom (late 19th century). The discovery of rich deposits of coal and natural gas in the vicinity of the city.
  Significance: Transition from an agrarian economy to heavy industry. Cheap energy resources attracted numerous factories, creating thousands of jobs and provoking a construction boom in the city centre.
• Era of Glass Production (early 20th century). Thanks to accessible gas, Clarksburg became a national centre for the glass industry. Large factories producing window glass, tableware, and famous glass marbles operated here.
  Significance: This period earned the city the nickname "Jewel of the Hills" and shaped its architectural appearance, which tourists can observe in the historic centre today.
• Immigration Wave and Cultural Shift (1900–1920s). The rapid development of industry attracted thousands of immigrants from Europe, especially from Italy, Spain, and Greece.
  Significance: Formation of the city's unique cultural code. Italian heritage became Clarksburg's calling card, gifting it the famous West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival and rich culinary traditions.
• Infrastructure Modernization (1970s). Construction of the Interstate 79 (I-79) highway and improvement of the road network (Route 50).
  Significance: The city strengthened its status as a regional transport hub, which allowed it to maintain economic activity even after the decline in heavy industry, ensuring convenient connections with Pittsburgh and Charleston.
• Technological Reorientation (1995). Opening of the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) complex.
  Significance: This event marked the transition to a service and technology economy. The complex became the largest employer, attracted highly qualified specialists to the region, and gave impetus to the development of the service sector and residential real estate.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of Clarksburg serves as a clear reflection of its rich industrial history. Unlike many small towns in the region, Clarksburg's centre has a distinct urban character with dense high-rise developments formed during the economic boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Evolution of Styles and Eras

The urban development of the city can be divided into several key stages, each corresponding to its own architectural dominants:

• Pre-industrial Period and Classicism (pre-1890s). The city's early architecture is represented by majestic mansions in the Greek Revival and Neoclassical styles. These buildings reflect the tastes of the elite of that time and a striving for monumentality.
  Vivid example: The Waldomore estate (1839) — a two-storey brick building with a classical portico, now part of the public library.
• Golden Age and Eclecticism (1890–1920s). The fire of 1897 destroyed a significant part of the old centre, which coincided with the industrial boom. The city was rebuilt in brick and stone, using styles popular at the time: Renaissance Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Commercial style. The city's first "skyscrapers" appeared during this time.
  Vivid example: The Goff Building — a 9-storey office building that long dominated the city skyline, designed in the Neoclassical style.
• Era of Modernism and Art Deco (1930s and later). During the Great Depression and subsequent years, architecture became more austere and geometric. Buildings combining functionality with Art Deco and Streamline Moderne aesthetics appeared in the city.
  Vivid example: The Harrison County Courthouse — built in 1931–1932, it is an outstanding example of modern American Classicism with Art Deco elements (PWA Moderne).

Historical Districts and Urban Features

The urban fabric of Clarksburg is clearly zoned, reflecting the social structure of the past:

• Downtown Historic District: Business and administrative life is concentrated here. The district is characterized by high building density and the preservation of commercial buildings from the early 20th century, creating the atmosphere of a bustling industrial city.
• Glen Elk Historic District: A district located by the railway tracks, historically serving as a home for immigrants and a centre for wholesale trade. The architecture here is more utilitarian, dominated by warehouses and small commercial structures that have preserved the spirit of the city's Italian heritage.
• Quality Hill: A prestigious residential area where the industrial elite built their residences. Here, one can find magnificent examples of Victorian architecture, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival styles.

Prominent Figures of Clarksburg

Clarksburg rightfully takes pride in its natives and residents who have made significant contributions not only to the history of the state of West Virginia but also influenced politics, culture, and military affairs on a national scale. The city became a cradle for many diplomats and statesmen.

• Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (1824–1863)
  Military commander, General of the Confederate Army.
  One of the most talented and famous generals of the US Civil War. He was born in Clarksburg, where he spent his early years. His birthplace is marked with a historical plaque, and a monument to this controversial but significant historical figure stands in the city centre.
• John William Davis (1873–1955)
  Politician, diplomat, and lawyer.
  Served as Solicitor General of the United States and was the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He gained the greatest fame as the Democratic Party's candidate for president in the 1924 election. Davis also became famous as one of the most successful lawyers to argue before the US Supreme Court.
• Cyrus Vance (1917–2002)
  Statesman, diplomat.
  A Clarksburg native who became the US Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter. Vance played a key role in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II) and the Camp David Accords, leaving a bright mark on 20th-century world diplomacy.
• Louis Arthur Johnson (1891–1966)
  US Secretary of Defense, lawyer.
  Although born in Virginia, his career is inextricably linked with Clarksburg, where he founded the law firm Steptoe & Johnson. He served as US Secretary of Defense under Harry Truman and was one of the founders of the veterans' organization "The American Legion".
• Nathan Goff Jr. (1843–1920)
  US Senator, Secretary of the Navy, judge.
  An outstanding Republican politician of the Reconstruction era. The only native of West Virginia to hold the post of US Secretary of the Navy. One of the city's most recognizable historical buildings — the Goff Building — bears his name.
• Pare Lorentz (1905–1992)
  Film director and documentarian.
  Known as "Roosevelt's filmmaker". He created innovative documentary films of the New Deal era, such as "The Plow That Broke the Plains" and "The River", which drew public attention to the environmental and social problems of 1930s America.
• Phyllis Curtin (1921–2016)
  Opera singer (soprano).
  A world-renowned performer who graced the stages of the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. Curtin became famous for her roles in operas by Mozart and contemporary American composers, and later became a respected vocal pedagogue.