Morgantown in Monongalia County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Courthouse Square
Monongalia County
By Devry Becker Jones, May 24, 2019
1. Courthouse Square Marker
Named for the Monongalia River, Monongalia County was established in 1776. With the formal recognition of the Mason-Dixon line in 1783, it was determined that the first meeting place of the county court actually fell within the borders of Pennsylvania, and the court was relocated to the home of Zacquill Morgan. In 1784, a small frame courthouse was erected near the site of the present courthouse square. A new courthouse building replaced this structure in 1802, and in 1848, a fourth courthouse was constructed. The fifth and current courthouse was designed in the Romanesque Revival style by Pittsburgh architect James Baily and was completed in 1891. As the county celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, a new annex to the courthouse was completed.[A timeline runs from Walnut Street south to the marker:]
County established
1783
County seat
moved
1785
Morgantown
established
1863
Statehood
1867
WVU
established
1870
First gas
street lamps
1886
First
passenger
train
1891
Courthouse
constructed
1896
Seneca
By Devry Becker Jones, May 24, 2019
2. Courthouse Square marker with the timeline showing
opens
1941
Ordnance
Works
constructed
1976
County
bicentennial
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings • Political Subdivisions • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 39° 37.782′ N, 79° 57.391′ W. Marker is in Morgantown, West Virginia, in Monongalia County. Marker is on Walnut Street (U.S. 119) west of High Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 243 High Street, Morgantown WV 26505, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Monongalia County Courthouse (here, next to this marker); To the Patriots of the American Revolution (a few steps from this marker); World War I Memorial (a few steps from this marker); World War II Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Honor Roll (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named World War I Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Korean Conflict Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Vietnam Conflict Memorial (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morgantown.
By Devry Becker Jones, May 24, 2019
3. Map display nearby
By Devry Becker Jones, May 24, 2019
4. County Seal
By Devry Becker Jones, May 24, 2019
5. Historic Landmark plaque on the building
Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 68 times since then and 3 times this year. Last updated on July 27, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 25, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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