West Virginia's oldest county was formed in 1754 by partitioning portions of Frederick and Augusta counties, which remain in Virginia. Subsequently, its area was reduced as other counties were formed from it. Hampshire County's rolling hills are particularly suitable for orchards and pastures, and agriculture has always dominated the economy. Because there are no urban centers, census takers tallied its 2000 population of 20,203—the highest figure yet recorded—as 100 percent rural. Even so, buildings of major architectural interest cluster in two small villages, the county seat of Romney and Capon Springs.
Writing Credits
If SAH Archipedia has been useful to you, please consider supporting it.
SAH Archipedia tells the story of the United States through its buildings, landscapes, and cities. This freely available resource empowers the public with authoritative knowledge that deepens their understanding and appreciation of the built environment. But the Society of Architectural Historians, which created SAH Archipedia with University of Virginia Press, needs your support to maintain the high-caliber research, writing, photography, cartography, editing, design, and programming that make SAH Archipedia a trusted online resource available to all who value the history of place, heritage tourism, and learning.