South Branch Depot, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Branch Depot
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 South Branch Depot
Location in West Virginia
South Branch Depot
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Hampshire |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1547063 |
South Branch Depot, also called South Branch, is a small, undeveloped community in Hampshire County, West Virginia. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.
Contents
What's in a Name?
South Branch Depot has had a few different names over the years.
From Forks to French's
Originally, this area was known as Forks of Potomac. This name made sense because it was located very close to where the North and South Branches of the Potomac River meet. Imagine two rivers joining together like the prongs of a fork!
Later, in the early 1900s, the name changed to French's Station. Eventually, it was simply called South Branch. The name South Branch Depot came from its important role with the railroad.
The Railroad Connection
South Branch Depot played a big part in the history of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
A Hub for Trains
Since the 1840s, when the railroad was first built here, South Branch Depot served as a "depot." A depot was like a station or a storage area where goods were loaded and unloaded from trains. It was also a post office, which meant people could send and receive mail there. This made it a busy and important spot for trade and communication.
How to Get There Today
Today, South Branch Depot is a quiet place. You can only reach it by car from Levels. You would take a road called Frenches Station Road, which is also known as County Route 5/7.
