Situated along the Monongahela River near the Pennsylvania border, Morgantown’s origins trace back to 1772, when Col. Zackquill Morgan, a frontiersman and Revolutionary War veteran, settled the area. In 1785, the Virginia General Assembly officially chartered the town as Morgan’s Town, later shortened to Morgantown. The settlement began as a small frontier outpost for trading, farming and river transportation.
Today, Morgantown blends small-town Appalachian charm with the youthful, energetic atmosphere of a college community. Home to West Virginia University (WVU), the state’s largest university, the city and school are inextricably linked. In the last 20 years, Morgantown has seen growth in population (it is the state’s fastest growing city), housing, health care, manufacturing, research and commerce.
Of course, Morgantown brims with blue and gold school spirit, as evidenced by the 60,000 fans who fill Mountaineer Field in the fall and the 14,000 spectators who cram the WVU Coliseum to cheer on the basketball team.
WVU Medicine (officially the West Virginia University Health System), headquartered in Morgantown, is the largest health system in the state with 25 hospitals. It is the Mountain State’s second-largest private employer.
As an R1 university, WVU is among the top U.S. institutions for higher education when it comes to research breadth and volume. In 2024, it reported $275 million in externally supported research expenditures. One of its most well-known research endeavors is the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, a first-of-its-kind center focused on the study of human memory. Its breakthroughs in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and addiction were recently featured on 60 Minutes.
Beyond the WVU campus, downtown Morgantown brims with energy and boasts a rich history. In 1996, 75 acres of the city center were listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Downtown Morgantown Historic District. The district contains 122 buildings. Among them are some of the city’s most iconic landmarks: the Old Stone House, Monongalia County Courthouse, Metropolitan Theatre and Old Morgantown Post Office (now the Monongalia Arts Center).
The Old Stone House is believed to be the oldest surviving house in Morgantown. The original two-story stone house was built about 1796. Once home to potter John W. Thompson, who crafted redware and stoneware pottery from clay found in its basement, the building became headquarters of the Morgantown Service League in 1935 — a role it continues to serve today with its volunteer-run gift and thrift shop in the house.
The Monongalia County Courthouse, located at 243 High St., predates the town of Morgantown by one year. The Romanesque building is the fourth courthouse built on the same site; the first was a frame structure built in 1784 at a cost of just $250. In 1851, a large wooden statue of Patrick Henry was placed on top of the courthouse in honor of his service as governor of Virginia from 1776-1779. Today the statue stands inside the turret of the current courthouse.
Built in 1924, the Metropolitan Theatre continues to provide a home for Morgantown’s live entertainment, with seating for 1,300, two storefronts on the ground floor and a pool hall in the basement. Just outside is a smiling statue of actor Don Knotts, who was born and raised in Morgantown before heading to the bright lights of New York and Hollywood. Knotts received five Emmy Awards for his memorable role as a bumbling deputy sheriff on the 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. Erected in 2016, the life-size bronze statue honors Morgantown’s best-known personality.
Built in 1913-14, the Old Morgantown Post Office on High Street has been transformed into the Monongalia Arts Center — an arts education center, cultural exhibit, gallery space and theater, all wrapped into one.
Just minutes from the busy shops and restaurants of downtown, outdoor recreation offers countless ways to experience the beauty of north-central West Virginia. Coopers Rock State Forest, with its sweeping overlooks of the Cheat River Gorge, rugged rock formations and popular Raven Rock Trail, is a favorite for hiking, climbing and photography. The West Virginia Botanic Garden, spread across 85 acres of wetlands, forest and meadow, offers 4.5 miles of peaceful walking trails and seasonal blooms. On the WVU campus, the Core Arboretum provides 91 acres of forest and riverbank trails — a quiet escape where bird calls replace city noise.
Outdoor enthusiasts also enjoy the Mon River Rail-Trail, a multiuse path that traces the Monongahela River and links several counties. It’s ideal for biking, jogging, walking and exploring riverfront vistas across communities. For a more scenic day trip, Valley Falls State Park, just south of Morgantown, showcases cascading waterfalls, wooded trails and striking rock outcroppings along the Tygart Valley River.
To the east, Cheat Lake offers opportunities for boating, swimming, fishing and lakeside relaxation, complemented by picnic areas and walking paths in Cheat Lake Park. On a palisade overlooking Cheat Lake is Lakeview Golf Resort, which features two 18-hole courses, tennis courts and a pool and sauna — a scenic blend of recreation and resort-style leisure.
From its historic downtown to its river valleys, forests and lakes, Morgantown endures as both a reflection of its history and a portrait of the landscape that shaped it.