Short answers, pulled from the story.
The county court ordered on the 5th of April 1843 that the county seat be known and called PHILLIPPA. The name evolved from Philippa to Philippi due to misspellings and confusion with the ancient city of Philippi.
Philippi hosted the scene of the first land battle of the American Civil War on the 3rd of June 1861. Union forces under Col. Benjamin Franklin Kelley attacked Confederate recruits commanded by Col. George A. Porterfield at daylight, resulting in a chaotic retreat known as the Philippi Races.
Lemuel Chenoweth built a covered bridge in Philippi in 1852 to provide a link on the turnpike between Beverly and Fairmont. The structure remains the town's prominent landmark today and is notable for being one of the longest twin-barreled covered bridges in the United States.
The 2020 census counted 2,929 people and 1,311 households residing in the city. Racial composition showed 84.6% White residents alongside 8% African American population with Asian residents comprising 0.7%.
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission revoked degree conferring ability the 31st of July 2023. Board of trustees voted same day to close the university completely due to rapidly deteriorating financial condition.