The Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing, and Improvement Company played an instrumental role in creating this new town. In 1890, the company bought 850 acres (3.4 km²) adjoining the western and northern corporate limits of Charles Town and commissioned D.G. Howell, a civil engineer and architect, to lay out the town. The largest tract of land purchased was from the Ransom family. The Corporation of Ranson in Jefferson County, West Virginia, was officially incorporated in 1910. It was named in honor of Dr. James Ranson, a dentist and farmer living in the area. The 2006 Census estimate claims Ranson's population is 3,957, up just over 1,000 people since 2000.
The early growth and development of Ranson reflects the late 19th century boom of the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas associated with the rise of the railroads, mining, and manufacturing. Some of the companies that located in Ranson early on included the Hotel Powhatan, the Goetz Saddlery, the Shenandoah Brass and Iron Works, the Elemer E. Beachley Saw and Planing Mill, the John Farrin Boiler and Machine Shop, and the Vulcan Road Machine Company. In 1936, the town of Ranson purchased the building that formerly housed the Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing, and Improvement Company and set up the town offices within it. Today, Ranson is a thriving community that blends a developing commercial district housing major corporations with rapidly growing residential neighborhoods.
In recent years, the City has grown in expanse, stretching north-west nearly to Kearneysville. With Ranson's growth came new business being developed on the dual highway, at the edge of town. Businesses such as Home Depot, Weis Market, Kohl's Department Store, and Gamestop along with many others. Dining establishments also found a new home in Ranson, to include Dunkin Donuts, Panera Bread, Glory Days Grill, Bob Evans, Chick-fil-a, just to name a few. Not only have new businesses arrived, but the housing development has also come, with new family homes going up every week in 1 of our new communities.