Former Names of West Virginia Towns

By W. S. Laidley

Some of the towns of West Virginia would not now be recognized by their old names, and who can tell why they were changed, and who can tell why some are not changed.

Fairview of Hancock County, was New Manchester, and New Cumberland was Vernon.

Wellsburg was Charles Town.

Moundsville was Elizabethtown.

Fairmont was Middletown.

Pruntytown was first Cross-Reads, then Williamsport.

Weston was Preston, then Fleshersville.

Morgantown was Borough of Morgantown.

Beverly was Borough of Beverly.

Gerrardstown was Middletown.

Lewisburg was Fort Savanna.

Charleston was Fort Lee then Charlestown.

Parkersburg was "The Point" then Newport.

Shepherdstown was New Mecklenburg.

Point Pleasant was Fort Randolph.

Berkeley Springs was Bath.

Aracoma was Lawnsville.

Suton was Suttonsville.

St. Albans was Philippi, Coalsmouth, Kanawha City.

Maiden was Terra Salis. Then Salines.

Ravenswocd was Ravensworth.

There was once a town called Monroe, where is it?

West Virginia AHGP

Source: The West Virginia Historical Magazine, Quarterly, Volume 3, January, Charleston, West Virginia 1903.