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| Morgan County was formed in 1820 on February 9th from parts
of Berkeley County and Hampshire County. The county was named after General
Daniel Morgan a Revolutionary War and “Whiskey Rebellion” hero who lived
in Berkeley County and later owned a house in Berkeley Springs
In 1776, shortly after independence was declared, an act passed by the Virginia Assembly created the Town of Bath already famous for its warm springs for bathing. Colonists hoped it would rival the famous resort of Bath, England, which attracted nobility. A building boom began in the town in the 1780’s being overseen by James Rumsey the famous early inventor and resident of Bath. The town has had its share of catastrophes with the plague of 1805, a fire that destroyed most of the business district, scars of the Civil War and more fires that destroyed the Berkeley Springs (Strother) Hotel in 1898 and Fairfax Inn in 1901. The rebuilding of the B&O Railroad brought some revitalization back to Bath and Morgan County after the Civil War. However, due to competition the town never fully recovered. Today, waters from the springs still flow and visitors still come to see the lovely town and its historic sites.
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