MARTINSBURG

martinsburg, a town and the county-seat of berkeley county, west virginia, u.s.a., about 74 m. w.n.w. of washington, d.c. pop. (1890) 7226; (1900) 7564 (678 negroes); (1910) 10,698. it is served by the baltimore & ohio and the cumberland valley railways; the former has repair shops here. it lies in the lower shenandoah valley at the foot of little north mountain, in the midst of a fruit-growing region, peaches and apples being the principal crops. slate and limestone also abound in the vicinity. the town has a fine federal building and a king's daughters' hospital. there are grain elevators, and various manufactures, including hosiery, woollen goods, dressed lumber, &c. martinsburg owns its waterworks, the supply being derived from a neighbouring spring. a town was laid out here a short time before the war of independence and was named martinstown in honour of colonel thomas bryan martin, a nephew of thomas, lord fairfax (1692-1782); in 1778 it was incorporated under its present name. during the civil war martinsburg was occupied by several different union and confederate forces.