The Randolph County Commission welcomes you to Randolph County! Randolph, the state's largest county, is located in the east central region of the state. Its forested ridges, fertile agricultural valleys and five river systems create beauty at every bend in the road. Randolph County is exceedingly mountainous. The County's most visible resource and its most scenic attraction is its forest land. 176,230 acrea of the Monongahela National Forest lie within the county.

Randolph County was created in 1786, from the territory of Harrison County. The county was named in honor of Edmund Jennings Randolph, Governor of Virginia in 1786-88. The first County Court of Randolph County was convened at Benjamin Wilson's home (the Fort) on Ebberman's Creek (Chenoweth Creek) on May 28, 1787 In 1790 the population of the county was 951. The first session of the court authorized that the new county court house be erected on the Westfall property, which was later chartered as Beverly in 1790. It was a brick building, and cost approximately twelve hundred dollars to build. The county seat remained in Beverly for 112 years, until replaced in Elkins in 1889 as an aftermath of a struggle between the two communities to relocate the courthouse. In 1860 the population of Randolph County had grown to 4,990., and in 1890, the population was 11,633, with a large measure of growth being in Elkins. It is not surprising that with the growth of this new population center in the county, the seat of county government should be changed. In 1990, the population of Randolph County was 27,715.

The river valleys of Randolph County have provided a base for profitable agriculture, but largescale lumbering and mining of coal came to dominate the economy. This transformation was facilitated and accelerated by the advent of the railroads. The West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railroad Company was incorporated in 1881. Henry Gassaway Davis, United States Senator for West Virginia, was the leading promoter of this enterprise. Elkins became the hub of many railway lines, which accounts for the town's rapid growth. Three of the Railroad's board of directors, Henry Gassaway Davis, Stephen B. Elkins, and R. C. Kerens, erected palatial residences in the town, Graceiand, Halliehurst, and Pinecrest respectively, which still stand. Davis & Elkins College has been deeded Halliehurst and Graceland, and these have both been recently restored and are on the National Register for Historic Places. They are two of seven historic buildings on the campus. Since 1904, when Davis & Elkins opened its doors, the college has fulfilled the vision of its founders, Senator Stephen Benton Elkins and his father-in-law, Henry Gassaway Davis, by providing high quality educational opportunities to students. The 170 acre campus is located on a pturesque hillside overlooking the community of Elkins. Enrollment is around 940 students.

Sandstone, from nearby quarries was widley used to construct the more expensive homes, churches, municipal and county buildings. Perhaps the most impressive structure built of the homewood sandstone from the Kaufman Quarry was the Randolph County Courthouse erected in Elkins in the early 1 900s. The corner stone was laid in 1902, and the building was completed in 1908. The sandstone contrasts with smooth and textured stone trim, much of it extensively carved. An 150 foot tower is offset by steep hip roof of red tiles, with large gables and corner turrets. An engaged buttress serves as a pedistal for a classical-style statue holding the scales of justice. It is one of West Virginia's finest examples of Richardson Romanesque architecture. It was designed by J. Charles Fulton of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The County jail was built in 1910, and also has a corner tower and red tile roof.

Five miles west of Beverly, where the old Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike crosses the gap in Rich Mountain, is the site of a decisive Civil War battle fought on July 1 1, 1861. This battle was a factor in establishing the reputation of General Geaorge B. McClellan and led to his appointment in Washington as General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States.

The Elkins Inter-Mountain, founded in 1892 and published as a daily newspaper since 1907, is the only daily newspaper in this and seven bordering counties.The county seat town of Elkins has a census population of 7,389.Downtown Elkins is situated at an elevationof 1,830 feet above sea level. The town lies on land surrounding the intersection of the Tygart Valley and the Leading Creek Valley, between Rich Mouintain to the south and west and Cheat Mountain to the north and east. The Tygart Valley River flows through the length of the town. The local landmark in Elkins is the statue of Henry Gassaway Davis, called the "Iron Horse". Elkins has become the commercial center for the entire area. Today it is a complete market place, county seat, banking headquarters, medical center and the scene of varied cultural activities. An industrial park offers 53 acres of development space for new industry. Modern schools and attractive homes enveloped by nature's beauty, create an outstanding environment in Randolph County. Within an hour's drive of Elkins, ski areas can be reached. A whirlwind day of skiing, can be found at three of the outstanding ski resorts - Canaan Valley, Silver Creek/ Snowshoe and Timberline. Over 80 trails and slopes are available. With average annual snowfalls of 180 inches, this is ski country.

Randolph County has a distinctive character because of the attitudes and energies of the people who came to occupy the land, and the chain of historic events of which it has been a part. To those who have once lived here and have since gone to live in other places, the thought of Randolph County brings memories of the people they knew here, the work they did, and the fun they have had here. Tourists who travel through the county admire the forests, in spring, summer, fall and winter. We hope all who are reading this will come and visit Randolph County