West Virginia was long a part of Virginia, and Morgan Morgan began the settlement of the region in 1727. A great battle with the Indians took place at Point Pleasant in 1774, and West Virginia became a separate state of the Union in 1863. Frederick County was formed in 1738 from Orange and was named for Frederick, Prince of Wales, father of King George III. Several battles were fought in the vicinity of Winchester from 1862 to 1864.