Inwood is a census-designated place (CDP) in Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States, located south of Martinsburg in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The population was 3,426 at the 2020 census (up from 2,954 at the 2010 census). It is located on U.S. Route 11. Bus route 18 provides public bus service to the town and is operated by the Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority.
History
In the late 1880s, coinciding with the arrival of the Cumberland Valley Railroad (CVRR) extension, a resort that became known as Inwood Park was established on the property of the Strong family of south Berkeley County, West Virginia. On May 5, 1890, the Inwood Post Office opened and the village grew around the Park. From 1892 - 1913, an annual event called the Inwood Fair was held at the Park. This event drew in the range of 7,000 - 12,000 people.
The Cumberland Valley Railroad station in Inwood also included a grain elevator, which ensured that much of the local agricultural products would be brought to Inwood to be shipped elsewhere. Other products shipped from Inwood via the CVRR were wood products, such as bark (for tanning) and railroad ties from the area west of the town. The station at Inwood was one of the most profitable stations on the CVRR line.
The town of Inwood was originally called Gerrard. There are two stories as to how the town got its name. One story is that it was named for the Park located there - Inwood Park, the park "in the woods" - therefore INWOOD park.
The other story is that Inwood's name was changed when Jonathan Newton Thatcher, of Gerrard, wanted to open a post office in the town. Washington D.C. post authorities told Thatcher that he would have to rename the town of Gerrard, since it would conflict with mail going to Gerrardstown, a town 4 miles west. When Thatcher's cousin from Inwood, California, showed him a letter with his home address on it, he decided to use the name “Inwood” for the town. He wrote to Washington D.C. to get the town's name changed from Gerrard to Inwood and to get a post office established there. Jonathan Thatcher was the first postmaster for the new Inwood, West Virginia.
In the early years of the 20th century, a local prominent citizen and politician, Gray Silver, was instrumental in establishing a co-op among the area's many orchardists. The principal crop among those orchardists was apples, because they were less likely to be damaged during shipment and the fact that they could last for long periods of time when stored properly. Through federal funds and the influence of Gray Silver, a school where various aspects of growing apples was established at Inwood.
Gray Silver was also instrumental in putting together a group of investors to bring a commercial apple plant to Inwood.
In 1920, the C.H. Musselman Company of Biglerville, Pennsylvania, opened an apple processing plant at Inwood. This was convenient to the many apple orchards of the Shenandoah Valley and the former Cumberland Valley Railroad, by this time part of the Pennsylvania Railroad line. By the late 1920s, the Musselman plant in Inwood exclusively produced apple sauce, the first apple processing plant of its kind.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
As of the census
South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Department
The greater Inwood area is serviced by the South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company, also known as Station 20. Located at 7556 Winchester Avenue in Inwood, The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company was established in 1956 in a building located on True Apple Way by several employees of the Knauss Foods group and members of the community. With the continued growth of their service area, the Fire Company was relocated to a larger building located at 8009 Winchester Avenue. During the time at this location, the Inwood and Bunker Hill areas continued to grow in population and calls for service increased.
In 2017 the main station was relocated into a new building that was converted from a big box store location into a brand new seven bay firehouse. Housing Two Engines, a Heavy Rescue Squad, Brush Truck, Utility and Mobile unit that is used for EMS calls.
The S.B.V.F.C. Operates in Berkeley County WV as one of five volunteer fire houses, Although as the volunteer staffing has decreased across the country, The Main station is now Staffed part time by paid staffing from Berkeley County Fire during the hours of 06:00-18:00 (6:00 P.M.) M-F.
The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company also operates a substation (Station 29) which houses one Engine located at 4172 Winchester Avenue, close to the end of the Runway of the 167th Air National Guard Base.
The Motto of the South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company is "It's All Good in Inwood", and " Pride of the Southside".
Notable people
- Conrad Brooks (1931-2017), actor
- Larry V. Faircloth (1948-2023), politician
- Muriel A. Howard (born 1947/48), university administrator
- Sam Rizzetta (1942-2021), hammered dulcimer player
- Gray Silver (1870-1935), politician and agricultural leader
- Mick Staton (1940-2014), banker and politician