Our History The City of Elkins, situated on a bend in the Tygart Valley River, was developed by Senators Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen B. Elkins and named for Senator Stephen B. Elkins, in 1890. Elkins became the county seat in 1899. They developed railroad lines, coal mines, and timbering. Together, they built the WV Central and Pittsburgh Railway into Elkins and opened a vast territory to industrial development in the late 1899's. As the railroad expanded, Elkins experienced the luxury of train passenger service. In 1930, 18 passenger trains were arriving and leaving Elkins daily. All passenger service was discontinued in 1958.   Both men built permanent places of residence known as Halliehurst and Graceland, where the view of the town was delightful and picturesque. Today, Elkins has an active economic development authority, chamber of commerce, downtown business organization and numerous social, fraternal and service organizations that sponsor annual events like the Mountain State Forest Festival, which brings thousands of people into Elkins every year.