Fort Ashby, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Ashby, West Virginia
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 Fort Ashby, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Fort Ashby, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| County | Mineral |
| Named for | Fort Ashby |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.2 km2 (3.6 sq mi) |
| • Land | 9.2 km2 (3.5 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.1 km2 (0.04 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 188 m (617 ft) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,380 |
| • Density | 150.0/km2 (383/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
26719
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| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-28444 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2389101 |
Fort Ashby is a small community in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is located along Patterson Creek. This area is part of the larger Cumberland, Maryland-West Virginia region.
In 2010, about 1,380 people lived here. The community was first called Frankfort. Later, it was known as Alaska. Finally, it took the name of its famous historic landmark, Fort Ashby. The Mineral County Fair is held in Fort Ashby.
Contents
What is Fort Ashby Like?
Geography of Fort Ashby
Fort Ashby is a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistics. It covers about 9.2 square kilometers (3.6 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Who Lives in Fort Ashby?
In 2000, there were 1,354 people living in Fort Ashby. Most residents were White (98.82%). A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 0.44% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Fort Ashby was 39 years old. About 23% of the people were under 18. Around 16% were 65 years or older.
The average income for a household was $32,375. For families, it was $40,847. A small number of families (4.9%) and individuals (8.8%) lived below the poverty line.
Schools in Fort Ashby
Fort Ashby is part of the Mineral County Schools system. The community has two schools:
- Fort Ashby Primary School
- Frankfort Intermediate School (This used to be Fort Ashby High School until Frankfort High opened in 1976).
History of Fort Ashby
Early People in the Area
Long ago, Native Americans often visited the Patterson Creek Valley. This is where Fort Ashby is located today. Shawnee warriors used parts of the valley as a resting place during their hunting trips.
There were at least two old Native American trails leading into the community. One trail came from the North Branch Potomac River. The other came from Dan's Run.
Many Native American graves are found around Fort Ashby. These are in places where small fights may have happened. People have also found arrowheads and other tools in the area. Native American groups often worked together to keep white settlers out of their hunting grounds.
During the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War, families in Frankfort (as it was then called) faced dangers from French soldiers and Native Americans from the Ohio River Valley.
Fort Ashby in the 1700s
The first fort in the area was built by men from Hampshire County. Some of these men were from the Frankfort area. This fort was later captured by the French and named Fort Duquesne.
Around 1755 or 1756, a Native American Chief named Killbuck attacked settlers in Patterson Creek Valley. During this time, he killed Williams and Wendell Miller and captured John Casey.
In 1755, Colonel George Washington ordered a stockade and fort to be built. This fort was built where Fort Ashby village is now. Today, it is a museum run by the Friends of Ashby's Fort. The fort first had 60 soldiers.
On Christmas Day 1755, Captain Charles Lewis took command of the fort with 21 men. Washington told him to hold the fort as long as possible. If he had to, he should burn it rather than surrender. Then, he should try to reach Fort Sellers or Fort Cumberland.
In 1756, Washington ordered Colonel Adam Stephen to keep Forts Ashby and Sellars supplied with food and ammunition. The most important battle at Fort Ashby happened in 1756. Lieutenant Robert Rutherford and his rangers were defeated by French soldiers and Native Americans. After the French left, Native Americans stayed to watch the fort.
During this time, Colonel John Ashby was attacked by Native Americans outside the fort. He made a remarkable escape back to the fort. This event led to the fort being called "Ashby's Fort." Colonel Ashby later commanded the fort.
On April 22, 1756, Washington wrote to Ashby. He told him that if Native Americans attacked, he should wait for darkness. Then, he should blow up the fort and go to Fort Cumberland with any ammunition they could carry.
Washington also wrote to Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia. He said that people were leaving the area around Frankfort because they feared Native Americans. He worried that the area would soon be empty. It is thought that most settlers left what is now Mineral County during this time. Only those protected by Forts Ashby and Sellars remained.
In another letter, Washington mentioned that about 150 Native Americans had attacked. Around 70 men were killed or missing. Several homes and farms were destroyed. He planned to march quickly to Fort Cumberland to help the soldiers there. He also thought two or three companies of rangers were needed to guard the Potomac River.
Some of the first white settlers came to Patterson Creek Valley between 1732 and 1736. Families like Casey, Pancake, Foreman, and Van Meter lived there. These settlers may have rented land from Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Before Washington surveyed the land, people had already claimed land around the village.
In his journals, Washington wrote that he stayed with Abram Johnson on Patterson Creek on March 28, 1748. Abram Johnson lived south of Frankfort village.
Before the American Revolutionary War, not many new families moved into the lower part of the valley. The Johnsons and Van Meters were important citizens and owned a lot of land. New names like Tay-lor, Lynn, Williams, and Powell became known around the start of the war.
There is not much history recorded about Frankfort during the American Revolutionary War. This area was known as the "back door" of the Revolution. Men here were busy watching for Native Americans.
In 1777, Captain William Foreman gathered men from Hampshire County. They went to Wheeling to fight Native Americans. They were defeated at the McMechen Narrows. A monument now marks this spot. Men from Frankfort in Foreman's Company included Samuel Johnson, John Willison, and William Lynn.
Captain Michael Cresap organized a company of riflemen from Hampshire County. They marched to Boston and fought in some small battles. Cresap died in New York and was buried there. Men from Frankfort in his company included Johnson, Ashby, Wagoner, Williams, Powell, Pew, Harris, and Miller. Cresaptown, Maryland, is named after him.
After the war, Frankfort grew quickly. Many new settlers arrived, such as the Keller, Richards, Brockhart, and Daniels families. Around this time, a brick house and an old stone hotel were built. These buildings replaced older inns.
How Frankfort Was Established
Dennis Daniels and other men helped establish the town of Frankfort. One hundred thirty-nine acres of land owned by John Kellar were divided into town lots with streets. The Virginia General Assembly officially approved Frankfort as a town on December 5, 1787.
The law stated that John Kellar's land was now the town of Frankfort. It also named eight trustees. These trustees would settle disputes about lot boundaries. They would also set rules for building houses. If a trustee died or moved, the others could choose a new one.
The trustees were also in charge of selling lots that John Kellar had not sold. They had to advertise the sales and sell the lots at a public auction. Buyers had to build a house at least 16 feet square with a brick or stone chimney within three years. If they did not, the trustees could take back the lot and sell it again. Once a buyer built a house, they would have the same rights as people in other towns.
Early Businesses in Frankfort
Some lots were sold and built on. Others were sold later at a public auction. Joseph Inskeep bought many of these lots. He believed Frankfort would become a big city. Inskeep even gave four lots in the center of the village for public use. This area is now known as the Public Square.
For many years, Frankfort was a major trading center. Before the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was built, Frankfort was on the main route from Winchester to Wheeling. Hundreds of tons of goods passed through monthly. This traffic supported two hotels in Frankfort. The Public Square was often filled with wagons carrying valuable goods.
Samuel Brady was likely the first important merchant in Frankfort. He had a large chain of stores, and one was in Frankfort years before the American Civil War. People say you could buy almost anything there. People from Keyser and Ridgeley would trade with him.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Ashby (Virginia Occidental) para niños
