Iron making was one of the first industries in Western Virginia because the area had lots of natural resources like iron ore, charcoal, limestone, and water power. It started in 1742 when William Vestal built the first small ironworks, called a bloomery, in Jefferson County.

Over time, bigger ironworks like blast furnaces were built to make larger items. The first blast furnace was built in 1763, and by the early 1800s, more ironworks were operating in towns like Morgantown. One of the most successful was Jackson’s Ironworks, started in 1809.

By 1860, there were 28 iron furnaces in the region, but most closed before the Civil War due to poor transportation and cheaper iron from other states. The industry made a short comeback after the war but faded by the 1880s as new technology used coke instead of charcoal, leading to modern steelmaking.