Bunker Hill, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bunker Hill
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 Bunker Hill
Location in West Virginia
Bunker Hill
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Berkeley |
| Elevation | 568 ft (173 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 5,319 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
25413
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| GNIS feature ID | 1554028 |
Bunker Hill is a small community in Berkeley County, West Virginia, USA. It is located in the beautiful lower Shenandoah Valley. You can find it on Winchester Pike (U.S. Route 11) south of Martinsburg. Two small streams, Torytown Run and Mill Creek, meet here. Mill Creek flows into Opequon Creek, which then goes towards Winchester, Virginia. In 2000, about 5,319 people lived in Bunker Hill.
Contents
History of Bunker Hill
Early Settlement and Morgan Cabin
Bunker Hill has a long history! In 1726, a man named Colonel Morgan Morgan (1687-1766) started the first lasting settlement here. This was in the part of Virginia that later became West Virginia. His first cabin was destroyed during the French and Indian War.
Later, his family rebuilt the cabin before the American Revolutionary War. Morgan's grandson, James Morgan, was killed near the cabin by people who supported the British. This area became known as Torytown Creek. The cabin was restored in 1976 for the United States Bicentennial. Today, it is a museum with old furniture. It also serves as the main office for the Morgan Cabin Committee.
Honoring Early Settlers
The state of West Virginia has put up several monuments to honor Morgan Morgan. Near the town center, you can find Morgan Park. This park has a large monument built in 1924 to remember the first settler. There are also two historical markers.
Both Morgan Morgan and George Washington are remembered at the Morgan Chapel and Graveyard. This historic site is less than 2 miles from the town center. It is on the way to the Morgan cabin.
Historic Churches in Bunker Hill
Many historic churches are found in and around Bunker Hill. Payne's Chapel United Methodist Church was started in 1762. It was rebuilt in brick in 1851. After burning down in 1902, it was rebuilt again in 1905.
Other historic United Methodist churches are along Route 11. These include Bunker Hill United Methodist Church, Inwood, and Darkesville United Methodist churches. Bunker Hill Presbyterian Church was built in 1854. It was badly damaged in the American Civil War but rebuilt and reopened in 1879. Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, founded in the 1780s, changed from a white to a black congregation after the Civil War.
Mill Creek Historic District
The Mill Creek Historic District is an important area. It includes Morgan Park and buildings along Mill Creek for about five miles. This district was the first industrial center in the town and Berkeley County.
It has three bridges, including the county's first railroad bridge. There were also four mills and several old homes. Some of these homes were log cabins or stone structures, and some are now ruins. The Sherrard Mill became a home in the 1930s. Only the water channel remains of the Gray Mill.
The Bunker Hill Mill is a gristmill that still has milling equipment from the 1800s and 1900s. It is the only mill still working. This mill was built in 1738 and rebuilt in 1890. It is the only mill in West Virginia with two water wheels.
Bunker Hill and the Civil War
A small Civil War fight happened near Bunker Hill. This skirmish took place on July 17, 1861, between the Union Army and the Confederate Army.
Confederate General J. Johnston Pettigrew was badly wounded near Bunker Hill. This happened a few days after the Battle of Gettysburg. He was helping troops retreat from a flooded crossing. General Pettigrew died at Edgewood Manor in Bunker Hill on July 17, 1863.
Modern Growth
Bunker Hill has its own post office with the ZIP code 25413. Its location between Martinsburg and Winchester, Virginia, is important. It is near Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 11. This location has led to the community growing a lot since the 1980s.
See also
In Spanish: Bunker Hill (Virginia Occidental) para niños
