Barbour County West Virginia
“Rich in Civil War History”
Barbour County is a county located in north-central West Virginia. Barbour County, was formed in 1843 when the region was still part of the state of Virginia. Philippi, the county seat, was chartered in 1844. Both county and city were named for Philip Pendleton Barbour (1783-1841), a U.S. Congressman from Virginia and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Battle of Philippi, also known as the “Philippi Races“, was fought in Barbour County on June 3, 1861. This was a minor skirmish, and is generally considered the first land engagement of the American Civil War.
Barbour County West Virginia is known for the following achievements. Alderson-Broaddus College, an American Baptist institution, is located in the county. The College’s Physician Assistant (PA) program is one of the oldest and best established in the world.
