Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

Berkeley Springs is an arts community with working artists accounting for approximately 1% of the county population of 16,000. As a result, since 1994, the town has been listed in all four editions of John Villani's 100 Best Art Towns in America, one of only 11 towns so rated. In its early years, this small town was a popular tourist destination for residents from metropolitan areas. Visitors came then, as they still do today, to enjoy the mineral springs. Currently, four full-service spas service this small town. Berkeley Springs hosts the International Water Tasting competition, the largest and longest running such event in the world. In 1802, the town was named after colonial Governor Norborne Berkeley.