Inwood, West Virginia
| Inwood, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
| CDP | |
 Location in Berkeley County and the state of West Virginia. |
|
| Coordinates: 39°21′12″N 78°2′56″W / 39.35333°N 78.04889°WCoordinates: 39°21′12″N 78°2′56″W / 39.35333°N 78.04889°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Berkeley |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.9 sq mi (7.4 km2) |
| • Land | 2.9 sq mi (7.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 568 ft (173 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,954 |
| • Density | 1,000/sq mi (400/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 25428 |
| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-40204 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1540713 |
Inwood is a census-designated place (CDP) in Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States, located south of Martinsburg. The population was 2,954 at the 2010 census. It is located on U.S. Route 11.
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.
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