Martinsburg

History

Martinsburg was founded by General Adam Stephen as a settlement on the upper Potomac River. General Stephen named the settlement in honor of Colonel Thomas Byron Martin, the nephew of an English nobleman. Significant events in United States history have occurred in and around the area, and the residents are proud of their heritage. Successful efforts to preserve such landmarks as Aspen Hall, Belle Boyd House, and Adam Stephen House have made Martinsburg a unique community blending tradition with progress.

Homes

Homes in Martinsburg are moving and very well priced in the region. Lovely neighborhoods and access to the activities Martinsburg has to offer make buying your home here a smart plan.

• $100,000-200,000
• $200,000-300,000
• $300,000-500,000

Schools

Martinsburg schools are part of the Berkeley County School District, serving 18,600 students throughout the county. Children attend elementary, intermediate, middle and high schools. Find out more at Great Schools or School Digger.

Dining and Shopping

The center of downtown Martinsburg is home to many older buildings that business owners have revitalized for dining establishments. A local favorite is Habanero, located in a Gothic revival building that once housed Martinsburg’s central marketplace. Fresh, made-to-order favorites in varying degrees of spicy heat await. If Italian is more your style, Casa Visone offers casual Italian favorites. The Blue-White Grill is a diner-style restaurant that has been in service since 1958 and serves you renowned coleslaw and amazing, baked-from-scratch pie. A not-to-missed retro treat. Boyd’s Steakhouse features a bar that was once owned by Al Capone. Moving along the downtown area, the awe-inspiring Southwood Books, unique candle and soap items at Mel’s Smells, and beautiful glassware from West Virginia Glass Outlet are among the best places to discover treasures.

Arts and Entertainment

Martinsburg is home to one of the nation’s oldest farm markets, the five-generation family run Butler’s. The annual Chocolate Fair and Book Fest in April, and The State Apple Harvest Festival in October are special events to add to your calendars.  Martinsburg has a lively arts scene with galleries such as the Redbrick Gallery and the Apollo Civic Theater, as well as the renowned Wonderment Puppet Theater.

Parks and Recreation

Take advantage of the rich history of Martinsburg by taking in the Martinsburg portion of the Washington Heritage Trail, tour the B&O Roundhouse and Station Complex, or visit the intrigue of Belle Boyd’s Civil War Confederate spy life. Outdoor recreation includes miles of hiking trails, first-rate hunting and fishing opportunities, kayaking and canoeing along the steams of the Potomac, and the region boasts two large nature preserves: Staufers March Nature Preserve and Yaunkauer Nature Preserve.

Commute

Martinsburg is a commuter’s dream. A short ten minute drive to Maryland and Virginia, and a short 35 minute drive to Pennsylvania, hours-long commutes are a thing of the past. The Maryland Transit Authority runs “MARC” commuter train service to Martinsburg, and a commute into Washington DC runs approximately two hours. However, many of the northern DC suburbs can be reached in an hour or so.