ELKINS

city, seat (1899) of Randolph county, eastern West Virginia, U.S. It lies along the Tygart Valley River, about 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Clarksburg. A rural settlement originally known as Leadsville, the town was laid out after the arrival of the Western Maryland Railway and was renamed (1890) to honour U.S. Senator Stephen Benton Elkins, who helped bring the railroad to Elkins. Livestock, timber, and limestone are important to the economy; the city also has light manufactures. Davis and Elkins College (1904), named for Senator Elkins and his father-in-law, U.S. Senator Henry G. Davis, is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian church. Elkins is the headquarters of Monongahela National Forest. The Mountain State Forest Festival, the oldest and largest festival in West Virginia, is held there annually in October. The Bowden National Fish Hatchery and Stuart Recreation Area are located nearby. Inc. 1890. Pop. (1990) 7,494; (1998 est.) 7,583.