The country around Keyser was a frequent battleground during the Civil War. A supply point for both armies, the community changed hands 14 times during the war. Nancy Hanks, mother of Abraham Lincoln, was born nearby on Doll Farm at Mikes Run.
Fort Ashby on Hwy 46 near its intersection with Hwy 28, was built in 1755 and is the only remaining fort of the 69 that George Washington built to protect West Virginians. The fort is open by appointment only.
Keyser is located in Mineral County (of which it is the county seat) along US Highway 220 near the Potomac River.
Keyser is part of the Cumberland, Maryland-West Virginia metro area.
