1764History
The first known European visitor to the area that later became Clarksburg was John Simpson, a trapper, who in 1764 located his camp on the West Fork River opposite the mouth of ...
1772Architecture
=== Settlement and early history ===
As early as 1772, settlers began claiming lands near where Clarksburg now stands and building cabins.
1773Culture
In 1773, Major Daniel Davisson (1748–1819) took up 400 acres (1.6 km2), upon which the principal part of the town is now located.
1774History
By 1774, those settling near present Clarksburg included Daniel, Obadiah, and Amaziah Davisson, Thomas, John, and Matthew Nutter, Samuel and Andrew Cottrill, Sotha Hickman, and ...
1778Military
It is named for George Rogers Clark, a Virginian whose Revolutionary War campaigns included the capture of Vincennes in 1778.
1785History
The Virginia General Assembly authorized the town of Clarksburg in 1785.
1786History
In 1786, the Assembly authorized a road from Winchester, Virginia to Morgantown that later tied into what became the Northwestern Turnpike.
1787Government
In 1787, it chartered the Randolph Academy at Clarksburg, a private school led by Rev.
1807Culture
Two notable early landmarks survive from this era: the Stealey–Goff–Vance House (1807, expanded 1891, NRHP 1979) and Waldomore (begun 1839, public library 1931–1976, NRHP 1978).
1827Government
The Northwestern Turnpike—chartered in 1827 and begun in 1831—reached Clarksburg in 1836 and was macadamized from the Tygart Valley River to Parkersburg by 1848.
1840Infrastructure
The Northwestern Turnpike reached Clarksburg in the 1830s, stagecoach service to Parkersburg began in 1840, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reached the city from Grafton in ...
1856Infrastructure
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad extended its line from Grafton to Clarksburg in 1856, making the city an important regional shipping and transportation center.
1861Military
=== Civil War ===
At the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861, Harrison County delegates John S.
1863History
The Jones–Imboden Raid of April and May 1863 sought to impede recognition of West Virginia, which became the 35th state in June 1863.
1869History
During the 1920s, Clarksburg's Melville Davisson Post (1869–1930) was among the nation’s highest paid authors, known for Randolph Mason and Uncle Abner.
1870Architecture
The Despard Building dates to 1870.
1877Military
=== Postwar industrialization ===
In 1877, Clarksburg was one of three cities on the ballot for state capital.
1887Government
In 1887 the city laid six miles of water lines and in 1889 installed electric street lighting.
1890Architecture
Merchants Smith, Brown and Company built an early department store beginning in 1890.
1894Economy
The Traders' Hotel rose in 1894.
1900Government
Population grew from 4,050 in 1900 to 27,869 in 1920, aided by 1917 annexations of Adamston, Stealey, North View, and Broad Oaks.
1901Architecture
The city's first trolley opened in 1901 and operated until 1947.
1902History
Automobiles reached Clarksburg by 1902.
1907Architecture
Empire National Bank built a seven-story headquarters in 1907.
1911Government
Other significant buildings include the Goff Building (1911), Municipal Building (1888), the Waldo Hotel (1901–1904), Robinson Grand (1912, 1940), Harrison County Courthouse (19...
1914Military
Akro Agate relocated from Akron, Ohio, in 1914 and became famous for colorful marbles and pressed-glass housewares, producing more than two million marbles per week at its peak.
1917History
Cyrus Vance, born in Clarksburg in 1917, served as U.S.
1920Economy
Hazel-Atlas Glass Company operated the world’s largest tumbler factory in Clarksburg, employing more than 1,000 people by 1920.
1921Military
The Rolland Glass Company, founded in 1921 by Albert Rolland, produced fine tableware and stemware until its closure in 1985.
1924History
In 1924, the city hosted a parade for “native son” John W.
1928Architecture
Route 50 was paved through the city in 1928, and Interstate 79 opened in 1979, connecting Clarksburg with Charleston and Pennsylvania.
1929History
It may have reached 35,000 in 1929 before the Great Depression.
1931Culture
Gore later served as state agricultural commissioner (1931–33) and as Public Service Commissioner (1941–47).
1932Architecture
Four larger courthouses followed, the most recent completed in 1932.
1960Education
Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski was raised in Clarksburg and graduated from Wheeling Central Catholic High School, going on to hit the winning home run in the 1960 World S...
1975Architecture
In 1975 Clarksburg opened a new public library designed by architect Marcel Breuer, adding another distinctive element to its architecturally rich downtown.
1979Culture
Since 1979, the city has hosted the annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival during Labor Day weekend, one of the state’s major cultural events.
1981History
The West Virginia Preservation Alliance, the state's first, was created in Clarksburg in 1981.
1991Culture
Each September since 1991, Clarksburg has also held the West Virginia Black Heritage Festival, celebrating African-American history and culture in the region.
1994History
Record temperatures range from −24 °F (−31 °C) on January 19, 1994, up to 102 °F (39 °C) as recently as September 3 and 4, 1953.
1995History
Federal and technology employment expanded in the 1990s, highlighted by the opening of the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) complex in 1995.
1997Government
The Greater Clarksburg 10K, established in 1997 and renamed in 2007 in memory of journalist J.
1998Crime
In 1998, Looker was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,743 people, 7,447 households, and 4,378 families residing in the city.
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,578 people, 7,213 households, and 4,179 families residing in the city.
2020History
It is the principal city of the Clarksburg micropolitan area in North Central West Virginia, which had a population of 90,434 in 2020.
2023Culture
Since 2023 the city has also been home to the MTN Craft Film Festival, which showcases Appalachian-themed and independent films.