First known inhabitants
- 11,000 BC - First people in West Virginia were the Paleo-Indians or early hunters.
- 7000BC-1000 BC -
- Differing Archaic cultures developed in the Northern Panhandle, the Eastern Panhandle, and the Kanawha Valley.
- Most of the large game became extinct, and the early hunters either died out or adapted to a culture of hunting small game and gathering edible plants. in 6000 BC
- 1600 BC-1000 BC -
- Adena people differed from the Archaic do to organization of villages
- 1000 BC -Beginning of the Early Woodland or Adena culture.
- 500 BC - 1000 CE - Members of the Hopewell culture began migrating into the Kanawha Valley and erected mounds in the South Charleston and St. Albans area
- 1000 CE - 1600 CE - Native Americans of various tribes occupied West Virginia
Exploration
Exploration of the west went on in spite of the Kings objections and in 1670 John Lederer was the first European to set foot into present West Virginia. The 1671 Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam was the most important who discovered the New River note worthy as a river that flowed west rather than east. They named the River Wood River after Adam Wood but it didn't stick. They went as far as Peter falls at the present boarder of VA/WV. In 1673 another expedition led to the discovery of the Kanawha Valley. French explorer La Salle explored Branches of the Ohio as early as 1669.
Settlement
Time line of settlement 1642-44
Indian war held back exploration
1646 Early forts allowed for exploration
1670 John Lederer first to set foot in WV
1671 Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam Expedition discovered the New river and Peters Falls at VA/WV border
1673 Batts/ Fallam discovered the Kanawha Valley 1716 Spotswood expedition into the Shenandoah Valley through Swift Run Gap
1717 there may have been a settlement at Potomoke that may have been near present day Shepherdstown. Presbyterian Church records show a request from Potomoke for ministry to be established there
1726 Morgan Morgan is said to be the first WV settler
Indian war held back exploration
1646 Early forts allowed for exploration
1670 John Lederer first to set foot in WV
1671 Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam Expedition discovered the New river and Peters Falls at VA/WV border
1673 Batts/ Fallam discovered the Kanawha Valley 1716 Spotswood expedition into the Shenandoah Valley through Swift Run Gap
1717 there may have been a settlement at Potomoke that may have been near present day Shepherdstown. Presbyterian Church records show a request from Potomoke for ministry to be established there
1726 Morgan Morgan is said to be the first WV settler
Colonialand/or Territorial history
John Lederer, a German physician and explorer employed by Sir William Berkeley, colonial governor of Virginia, is believed to be the first European to set foot in present-day Mineral County. He explored the area in 1669.
The first recorded grants of land in West Virginia were made to Isaac and John Van Meter in 1730. This was in the Frankfort district of Mineral County.
In 1749 the first frontier fort, Fort Ohio, was built at Ridgeley. Fort Ashby was constructed in 1755, and is the last standing unit in the chain of forts built under the orders of George Washington. Fort Sellers was built near present day Short Gap, and Fort Cocke near Headsville.
In 1750 a frontier blockhouse, New Creek Blockhouse, was built about 1-mile (1.6 km) west of New Creek to protect local settlers.
Prior to 1738 the present Orange County, Virginia, situated on the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, included all of Virginia west of the Blue Ridge. In that year, the Virginia Assembly passed an act dividing this territory into two counties: Frederick and Augusta. Hampshire County was formed from those two counties in 1753.
The first recorded grants of land in West Virginia were made to Isaac and John Van Meter in 1730. This was in the Frankfort district of Mineral County.
In 1749 the first frontier fort, Fort Ohio, was built at Ridgeley. Fort Ashby was constructed in 1755, and is the last standing unit in the chain of forts built under the orders of George Washington. Fort Sellers was built near present day Short Gap, and Fort Cocke near Headsville.
In 1750 a frontier blockhouse, New Creek Blockhouse, was built about 1-mile (1.6 km) west of New Creek to protect local settlers.
Prior to 1738 the present Orange County, Virginia, situated on the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, included all of Virginia west of the Blue Ridge. In that year, the Virginia Assembly passed an act dividing this territory into two counties: Frederick and Augusta. Hampshire County was formed from those two counties in 1753.