SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV (LOOTPRESS) – It may come as a surprise to some, but at one point Shepherdstown in Jefferson County was in the running to become the nation’s capital.
If leaders in western Virginia would have had their way after the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, the nation’s capital would most likely be located in Shepherdstown.
The Virginia General Assembly approved the idea and expressed support for it to George Washington. Although the General Assembly approved the idea, George Washington was the one that would make the final decision.
On December 1, 1790, two prominent figures within Shepherdstown, Henry Bedinger and William Good wrote a letter to Washington expressing support for the movement to make Shepherdstown the capital of the United States.
People in the area did whatever they could to persuade Washington into choosing Shepherdstown, $25,000 was raised and 475 acres of land was donated to the cause.
The decision was made, and Washington did not choose Shepherdstown with transportation being the biggest factor in his decision. He decided to create a new city which is present-day Washington, D.C.
