Falling Waters, West Virginia facts for kids
Falling Waters is a community located in Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States. It sits right on the Potomac River. This area is called a census-designated place (CDP). You can find Falling Waters along Williamsport Pike (US 11), just north of Martinsburg. An old article from 1887 in Scientific American magazine even claimed that the first railroad in the U.S. was built right here in Falling Waters in 1814.
Quick facts for kids
Falling Waters, West Virginia
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Location in Berkeley County and the state of West Virginia.
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 Falling Waters, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Berkeley |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.245 sq mi (3.22 km2) |
| • Land | 1.245 sq mi (3.22 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 443 ft (135 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,430 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
25419
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| Area code(s) | 304 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2586801 |
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The community of Falling Waters was officially started in 1815. It's located between Hagerstown and Martinsburg, right on the Potomac River. Because of its good location, Falling Waters is mostly a place where people live. It has many old, historic homes. Some of these homes are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means they are important to history.
In recent years, many new homes have been built in Falling Waters. Lots of people choose to live here and travel to nearby cities for work. Some even commute as far as Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. This makes Falling Waters a "bedroom community" – a place where people sleep, but often work elsewhere.
Falling Waters During the Civil War
Falling Waters was an important spot during the American Civil War. Two battles took place here:
- The Battle of Hoke's Run happened in July 1861.
- The Battle of Williamsport happened in July 1863. This battle was part of the Gettysburg Campaign.
During the Battle of Williamsport, which took place on the Maryland side of the river, a Confederate general named J. Johnston Pettigrew was badly wounded. He was a key leader in a famous part of the Battle of Gettysburg called Pickett's Charge. He was wounded by Union cavalry led by George Armstrong Custer. However, General Pettigrew's soldiers helped slow down the Union forces. This delay allowed most of the Army of Northern Virginia to escape into West Virginia and then back to Virginia after their defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Local Schools
Falling Waters is home to several schools that serve the community's students:
- Marlowe Elementary School
- Spring Mills Primary
- Potomack Intermediate School
- Spring Mills Middle School
- Spring Mills High School
Historic Places to See
Falling Waters has some interesting historic sites:
- Edward Colston House, located at 1598 Tice Road.
- Harmony Cemetery, found on Nestle Quarry Road.
- Maidstone-on-the-Potomac, located at 12 Temple Drive.
Famous People from Falling Waters
- Mike and Heather Martin from the YouTube channel FamilyOFive used to live in Falling Waters.
See also
In Spanish: Falling Waters (Virginia Occidental) para niños
