Elkins, on the Tygart Valley River in the
Potomac Highlands, is in a region that contains many of West Virginia's highest mountains. The city is found in
Randolph County (
Eastern Region).
Named for Stephen B. Elkins, secretary of war and US Senator 1895-1911, the city was a center for railroad, timber and coal operations.
The mountains provide a variety of recreational opportunities. Ski areas are nearby in the
Monongahela National Forest, which maintains its headquarters in Elkins.
