Inwood, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Inwood, West Virginia
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Location in Berkeley County and the state of West Virginia.
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 Inwood, West Virginia
Location in Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
Inwood, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Inwood, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| County | Berkeley |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.9 sq mi (7.4 km2) |
| • Land | 2.9 sq mi (7.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 614 ft (187 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,954 |
| • Density | 1,019/sq mi (399.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
25428
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| Area code(s) | 304, 681 |
| FIPS code | 54-40204 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2389969 |
Inwood is a small community in Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States. It is located south of Martinsburg in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. In 2010, about 2,954 people lived there. Inwood is easy to find, as it sits right on U.S. Route 11.
Contents
History of Inwood
Early Days and the Railroad
In the late 1880s, something exciting happened in Inwood. The Cumberland Valley Railroad (CVRR) extended its tracks to the area. This led to the creation of a fun place called Inwood Park. It was built on land owned by the Strong family.
On May 5, 1890, the Inwood Post Office opened. The village of Inwood then grew up around Inwood Park. From 1892 to 1913, a big event called the Inwood Fair was held every year. Thousands of people, sometimes as many as 12,000, would come to enjoy the fair!
The railroad station in Inwood was very important. It had a grain elevator, which helped farmers ship their crops. Many local farm products were brought to Inwood to be sent to other places. Wood products, like bark for tanning and railroad ties, were also shipped from Inwood. The Inwood station was one of the busiest and most profitable on the CVRR line.
How Inwood Got Its Name
The town of Inwood was first called Gerrard. There are two interesting stories about how it got its current name.
One story says it was named after Inwood Park. The park was "in the woods," so people called it Inwood Park. This name then stuck for the whole town.
The other story involves Jonathan Newton Thatcher, who lived in Gerrard. He wanted to open a post office in the town. However, postal officials in Washington D.C. said he needed to change the town's name. This was because it might cause confusion with mail going to Gerrardstown, which was only four miles away.
Jonathan Thatcher's cousin from Inwood, California, showed him a letter with his home address. Thatcher liked the name "Inwood" and decided to use it for his town. He wrote to Washington D.C. to change the name from Gerrard to Inwood. He also asked to open a post office there. Jonathan Thatcher became the first postmaster for the new Inwood, West Virginia.
Apple Industry and Gray Silver
In the early 1900s, a well-known local leader named Gray Silver helped the area's many apple growers. Apples were a great crop because they didn't get damaged easily during shipping. They also lasted a long time when stored correctly.
Thanks to Gray Silver's efforts and federal money, a special school was started in Inwood. This school taught people how to grow apples better. Gray Silver also helped a group of investors bring a large apple processing plant to Inwood.
In 1920, the C.H. Musselman Company opened an apple processing plant in Inwood. This was perfect because Inwood was close to many apple orchards in the Shenandoah Valley. It was also near the former Cumberland Valley Railroad line, which by then was part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. By the late 1920s, the Musselman plant in Inwood was the first of its kind. It focused only on making apple sauce!
Geography of Inwood
Inwood covers an area of about 2.9 square miles (7.4 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
Population and People
In 2000, there were 2,084 people living in Inwood. The community had 810 households and 596 families. The population density was about 733.8 people per square mile.
About 25.7% of the people in Inwood were under 18 years old. Around 10.4% were 65 years or older. The average age in Inwood was 35 years.
Companies and Schools
Knouse Foods Musselman Plant
Inwood is home to the Knouse Foods Musselman plant. This plant first opened in 1920. Local investors helped by putting money together to buy the land for the plant. This land was part of the old Inwood Park.
In 1929, the C.H. Musselman Plant became the first apple processing plant to make only canned apple sauce. You could say that apple sauce really put the Musselman plant and the town of Inwood on the map!
Over the years, the Musselman company changed owners several times. In 1984, Knouse Foods bought it. They continued to run the Inwood plant until November 14, 2008.
Musselman High School
Musselman High School is also located in Inwood. It was built in 1949. The C.H. Musselman Company helped a lot by donating the land, materials, and even labor. This was a gift to the community. The high school welcomed its first students for the 1949–50 school year.
Until the early 1980s, the Musselman Foundation helped the school. This foundation was a part of the company that gave money for good causes. They provided expansions and facilities whenever the school needed them. Their last big gift to the community was the school's auditorium.
When a new Musselman High School was built in the late 1990s, the original building was taken down. Musselman Middle School was then built on the same spot.
Inwood Primary School
Inwood School, now called Inwood Primary School, opened in 1926. In 1970, it became a primary school as more schools were built in southern Berkeley County. There was an even older school located west of the current I-81 highway near Inwood. You can see it on a Berkeley County map from 1894.
In the early days of Inwood, there was a cooperage in the village. A cooperage is a factory that makes barrels. East of Inwood, there is still a quarrying operation today. They dig up limestone from underground for commercial use. Today, Inwood is a growing area. Many people who work in the nearby Washington Metropolitan area live here.
South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Department
Serving the Community
The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company, also known as Station 20, helps the greater Inwood area. It is located at 7556 Winchester Avenue in Inwood, West Virginia. This fire company started in 1956. It was founded by several employees of the Knouse Foods group and other community members. Their first building was on True Apple Way.
As the area grew, the Fire Company needed more space. They moved to a larger building at 8009 Winchester Avenue. During their time at this location, Inwood and Bunker Hill grew even more. This meant more calls for their help.
In 2017, the main fire station moved into a brand new building. It used to be a large store, but it was changed into a modern firehouse with seven bays. It now houses two fire engines, a heavy rescue squad, a brush truck, a utility vehicle, and a mobile unit for EMS (emergency medical services) calls.
Volunteer and Paid Staff
The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company is one of five volunteer fire houses in Berkeley County, West Virginia. While many fire departments across the country have fewer volunteers, the main station in Inwood is now staffed part-time by paid staff from Berkeley County Fire. They work from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company also has a smaller substation, called Station 29. This station houses one fire engine. It is located at 4172 Winchester Avenue, near the end of the runway of the 167th Air National Guard Base.
The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company has two mottos: "It's All Good in Inwood" and "Pride of the Southside."
See also
In Spanish: Inwood (Virginia Occidental) para niños
