Clarksburg, WV Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Clarksburg, WV: What You Need to Know

Clarksburg, a city in north-central West Virginia, is famously associated with native son Stonewall Jackson, one of the Confederacy’s most successful generals.

The Local History

Clarksburg was chartered in 1785, back when it was part of Virginia. The city was named after Gen. George Rogers Clark, a prominent frontiersman. In April 1861, Virginia, which was dominated by slave-holding plantations, joined the Confederacy. The western part of the state where slavery was not as common remained loyal to the Union. During the American Civil War, Clarksburg was an important Union supply base.

Things to Do in Clarksburg 

History buffs will love the Civil War Trail markers that highlight the city’s role in the war. A marker on the Courthouse Plaza commemorates the pro-Union meetings held in town during the early days of the war. There’s another plaque across from the Courthouse Plaza marking Stonewall Jackson’s birthplace. He was born Thomas Jonathan Jackson on Jan. 21, 1824. He earned his famous nickname at the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861, when he and his troops charged ahead to bridge a gap in the defensive line against a Union attack. Gen. Barnard E. Bee was so impressed. "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall," he said.

The Cost of Living in Clarksburg

By all accounts, Clarksburg is budget-friendly. Its cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 12.7%, 43.4%, and 44.5% lower than the national average, respectively. The city’s median gross rent is $741. West Virginia collects 3% to 6.5% in income tax and 6% in statewide sales tax. Take note that some cities charge an extra sales tax of up to 1%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Clarksburg is an average small town (population: 67,256) in the best way possible. It has a walkable downtown with great amenities, and everybody knows everybody. Families with school-age children love nearby Bridgeport for its schools, which excel in academics and sports alike. Shinnston, 11 miles from Clarksburg, has gorgeous scenery, especially in the fall, plus it has topnotch schools.

The Local Weather and Climate

It can be rainy and snowy in Clarksburg, but usually not as windy as it was on June 29, 2012. It was the first time the city experienced a type of windstorm called a derecho. Violent winds raced across West Virginia, damaging homes and leaving more than 670,000 residents in the state without electricity. Clarksburg usually gets 47 inches of rain per year versus the U.S. average of 38 inches. It receives about 34 inches of snow annually compared with the national average of 28 inches.