Clarksburg (West Virginia)

Clarksburg, also called the "Jewel of the Hills", is a city of 16,000 people (2020) in West Virginia. It is the county seat of Harrison Count in the North Central West Virginia region, also known as 'Mountaineer Country' and the 'I-79 Technology Corridor'.

Clarksburg and Harrison County have a large percentage of residents of Italian ancestry, their families mostly arriving during an industrial boom in the early 1900s, making Clarksburg a natural location of the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival held every year in downtown Clarksburg since 1979, and many Italian restaurants can be found in the area.

Understand
Clarksburg is almost 1,000 ft above sea level in a region of steeply rolling hills along the West Fork River.

Established in 1785, it was named for General George Rogers Clark, an important military leader in the Revolutionary War and the brother of William Clark, who was half of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was the birthplace of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson.

Clarksburg, along with Fairmont 20 minutes north, has a fairly large population descended from Italian immigrants, many of whom came to the area to work in the coal mines and the glass factories. While Fairmont claims to be the place of origin of West Virginia's official state food: the pepperoni roll; Clarksburg also has a large proportion of bakeries specializing in the dish. Many Italians initially settled in the Glen Elk neighborhood, located between the train station (now a CSX office) and downtown on the other side of Elk Creek.

Clarksburg has suffered significant population loss within its city limits, as of 2020 half of its 1950 peak. Additionally, the historic downtown business district has suffered an apocalyptic vacancy rate with many grand buildings from Clarksburg's wealthy heyday at risk of demolition. While some of this is directly due to de-industrialization, more has to do with suburbanization and lack of civic motive to invest in the city center, evidenced by the fact that the suburb of Bridgeport to the east of Clarksburg has grown significantly during this time, and the retail nucleus of Harrison County has transitioned to a long string of big-box style development on Emily Dr. (paralleling I-79) between Clarksburg and Bridgeport.

By car
Clarksburg is at the intersection of US-50, between Parkersburg in the west and Grafton in the east, and US-19, between Fairmont in the north and Weston in the south. Clarksburg is just west of I-79 (exit 119); Bridgeport is just east of the interstate.

By plane
There is one airport serving Clarksburg.

Get around

 * Central West Virginia Transit Authority, 208 N 4th Street, +1 304-623-6002. Bus service for Harrison County, covering Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Shinnston, Adamston, Anmoore, Despard, Hartland, Northview, Nutter Fort / Stonewood, Stealey, West Milford and Wolf Summit / Salem. Fares $0.50-1.
 * Tom's Central Taxi, 528 Philippi Pike, +1 304-622-0590.

See

 * The Downtown Clarksburg Historic District includes hotels (the ), homes (the, at the corner of 4th and Pike, the , and the on Main Street), and the art deco . A plaque at 324 W Main Street now marks the site of , and there's a statue of him astride a horse in the Harrison County Courthouse Plaza.
 * The Glen Elk Historic District is Clarksburg's historic Little Italy; located across Elk Creek north of downtown
 * Ten Mile Creek Covered Bridge, Marshville - Camp Rock Road off US-50 (exit 5). A 58-foot-long covered bridge over Ten Mile Creek, built in 1891 and restored in 2002.
 * Ten Mile Creek Covered Bridge, Marshville - Camp Rock Road off US-50 (exit 5). A 58-foot-long covered bridge over Ten Mile Creek, built in 1891 and restored in 2002.

Events

 * Greater Clarksburg 10K Race, 10K starts at 8:30AM on Main Street, followed by the 2-mile race and the Kids K. Information: +1 304-624-4100, or visit their website.
 * Glen Elk Wine, Music and Arts Festival, 2-day street festival with local wineries, free live entertainment, covered wagon rides and crafters. Held in the historic Glen Elk Village district. Information: +1 304-622-0711.
 * Jesus Fest, food, free movies, music, speakers, entertainment, and children's entertainment. Located at the new amphitheater at city's Veteran's Memorial Park. Information: +1 304-623-1362 or visit their web site.
 * National Pasta Cookoff, This pre-WV Italian Heritage Festival event is held at the new Jackson Square Parking 6 Event Facility on W. Pike Street in downtown and is open to amateur and professional cooks. Entertainment, hot pepper eating contest and other activities thru-out the day. Sponsored by the WVIHF. Information: +1 304-622-7314
 * West Virginia Black Heritage Festival, uptown Clarksburg, +1 304-623-2335. Held the second weekend of September. Celebrating black history with music, artists, soul food, a gospel sing, a youth showcase and speakers.
 * Salem Applebutter Festival, Many fraternal and non-profit groups vie for the best applebutter award. On-going entertainment, talent show, beauty pageant, arts & crafts and food and applebutter in abundance. Also a 5K run will take place. Information: +1 304-782-1518.
 * Clarksburg Christmas Parade. Held on Friday the full week after Thanksgiving. Parade with bands and floats.
 * West Virginia Black Heritage Festival, uptown Clarksburg, +1 304-623-2335. Held the second weekend of September. Celebrating black history with music, artists, soul food, a gospel sing, a youth showcase and speakers.
 * Salem Applebutter Festival, Many fraternal and non-profit groups vie for the best applebutter award. On-going entertainment, talent show, beauty pageant, arts & crafts and food and applebutter in abundance. Also a 5K run will take place. Information: +1 304-782-1518.
 * Clarksburg Christmas Parade. Held on Friday the full week after Thanksgiving. Parade with bands and floats.
 * Clarksburg Christmas Parade. Held on Friday the full week after Thanksgiving. Parade with bands and floats.

Learn

 * The Clarksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau is located at 208 Court Street [beside the Harrison County Courthouse on Main Street, +1 304-622-2157. Toll-free . Visit them on-line, click on Visitors Bureau.
 * The local newspaper is the Clarksburg Exponent Telegram, +1 304-626-1400 or +1-800-982-6034.

Go next

 * Fairmont - 20 minutes north on I-79, home of Fairmont State University
 * Morgantown - 40 minutes north on I-79, home of West Virginia University
 * Grafton 35 minutes east on US-50
 * Weston - 30 minutes south on I-79
 * Buckhannon - 40 minutes away, home of West Virginia Wesleyan College
 * Sutton - 1 hr south on I-79
 * Elkins - 1 hr away, home of Davis & Elkins College
 * Parkersburg - 1 hr 10 minutes west on US-50
 * Pittsburgh - The nearest large city, 1 hr 45 minutes north on I-79.