Johnsontown, Jefferson County, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Johnsontown is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County
, West Virginia
. It lies between the communities of Browns Corner
and Bardane
on Wiltshire Road at its junction with County Route 14.
Johnsontown was founded by free African Americans, George W. and Betty Johnson in 1848 on 12 acres. It was the first free black community in the state. The Johnsons and other families built a number of homes and a log one-room graded school which also served as a meeting place and housed religious activities until Zion Baptist Church was erected in Charles Town in 1898. Most of the buildings are gone, but the church and cemetery remain. The burials in the cemetery represent the former families of Johnsontown. It is commemorated by a highway marker placed by the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society.
Jefferson County, West Virginia
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 53,498. Its county seat is Charles Town...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. It lies between the communities of Browns Corner
Browns Corner, West Virginia
Browns Corner is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. It lies at the crossroads of Leetown Pike and Wiltshire Road between Leetown and Charles Town.- External links :* - Discussion Forums...
and Bardane
Bardane, West Virginia
Bardane is an unincorporated town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. It is located on West Virginia Route 9 between Kearneysville and Shenandoah Junction. Throughout its history, the community has been known as Brown's Crossing and Qunicy's Siding.- External links :* - Discussion Forums...
on Wiltshire Road at its junction with County Route 14.
Johnsontown was founded by free African Americans, George W. and Betty Johnson in 1848 on 12 acres. It was the first free black community in the state. The Johnsons and other families built a number of homes and a log one-room graded school which also served as a meeting place and housed religious activities until Zion Baptist Church was erected in Charles Town in 1898. Most of the buildings are gone, but the church and cemetery remain. The burials in the cemetery represent the former families of Johnsontown. It is commemorated by a highway marker placed by the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society.