Jefferson County was formed in 1801 from Berkeley and named for Thomas Jefferson. It was the home of Generals Gates, Darke, and Charles Lee, and four companies of Washington’s men organized here. Shepherdstown was strongly urged as the seat of the National Capitol. Virginia was named for Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen of England, was the site of the first permanent English settlement in America in 1607, was one of the 13 original colonies, and as the Old Dominion was the birthplace of eight United States Presidents.