Jefferson County

Jefferson County is an administrative division in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, situated between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River. Charles Town serves as its county seat, housing government offices and courts.

The county was established in 1801 from Berkeley County and named in honor of Thomas Jefferson. The area gained historical prominence when John Brown's trial took place here in 1859.

The Spirit of Jefferson newspaper, founded in 1844, continues as West Virginia's longest continuously published periodical and shapes local information sharing. It reflects the region's voice across generations.

Visitors and residents can handle administrative matters through the Gov2Go application, which simplifies vehicle registration and document access. Online services make many government procedures accessible without visiting an office in person.

The county was home to the nation's first Rural Free Delivery mail service, launched in 1896 between Charles Town and Halltown. This innovation later transformed how mail was distributed across America.

Location: West Virginia

Inception: January 8, 1801

Capital city: Charles Town

Part of: Arlington–Alexandria–Reston metropolitan division

Shares border with: Loudoun County, Washington County, Clarke County, Berkeley County, Frederick County

Website: http://jeffersoncountywv.org

GPS coordinates: 39.31000,-77.86000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 19:37