Whereas, in May 1754, Hampshire County was officially formed and the first shots were fired that would begin the French and Indian War; and,

Whereas, Hampshire County’s importance as a gateway to the developing west made it a target for enemy attacks during the war; and,

Whereas, it was due to this weakness that Colonel George Washington, Commander of the Virginia Regiment, built a chain of forts in Hampshire County as the northern bulwark of his western line of defense; and,

Whereas, not even the ravages of war could stop the advance of settlers into the fertile valleys of Hampshire County because the number of settlers continued to increase, which led to the establishment of Hardy County in 1786 and Pendleton County in 1788; and,

Whereas, during the Civil War, Hampshire County was again ravaged by war, and, because of its strategic location, there were many troop movements through Hampshire County and its county seat, the city of Romney, which is said to have changed hands 56 times during the Civil War; and,

Whereas, the Civil War left Hampshire County severely wounded and its citizens nearly destitute, but, once again, the people rebuilt their homes and communities and looked forward to a bright future; and,

Whereas, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of Hampshire County, West Virginia’s oldest county, and we should use this time to recall the heroic sacrifice of the countless men and women who came to Hampshire County to make a new life and to those who followed after them through times of war;

Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved that I, Bob Wise, Governor of the State of West Virginia, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2004, as:

Hampshire County Day

in the Mountain State and encourage all citizens to recognize the cost our forefathers paid to protect the treasure of the quiet, fertile valleys and the age-old forested mountains of Hampshire County.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia to be affixed.

Done at the Capitol, City of Charleston, State of West Virginia, this the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand Four, and in the One Hundred Forty-first year of the State.

Bob Wise                   
Governor                    

By the Governor:        
Joe Manchin, III          
Secretary of State