Carved from maryland and virginia by the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, Jefferson County is part of both river valleys. It was surveyed in the mid-18th century by a young George Washington who purchased his first piece of land here and encouraged his brothers to do likewise. There are six remaining Washington family homes in the county. Named for Thomas Jefferson, the county was officially created from Berkeley County in 1801.
Other notable historic figures made Jefferson County their home including a pair of Revolutionary War generals: Horatio Gates at Travelers Rest and Charles Lee at Prato Rio. In spite of being drafted into the new state of West Virginia in 1863, Jefferson County remained true to its southern roots. It provided more troops to the Confederacy than any Virginia locale other than the Richmond area and Tidewater accents can still be heard among the oldest families.
Agriculture remains a significant user of open lands. Horse and hay farms serving the Charles Town Races share countryside with historic buildings and suburban housing developments. Black culture has a long history in the county and today, Jefferson County has the largest African-American population in the state.
Three historic towns define the county’s daily life as well as providing attractions for visitors: Harpers Ferry with a National Historical Park; Shepherdstown, home of Shepherd University; and Charles Town, county seat and historic Washington homeplace.
