Adamston was named for Josias Adams, the original owner of the town site.
[1] It attained some national attention in 1912 when it elected a Socialist mayor and city government, some of whom were re-elected in 1915.
Among the contributing factors in the victory, according to later analysis, were the strong involvement of the window glass factory workers, and the commitment of a large portion of the Belgian-American population of the town.
[2] In 1917, Adamston, along with Broad Oaks, North View (where Progressives had had success) and Stealer Heights, was annexed to Clarksburg.
[3] It was generally understood that part of the reason for annexation was to diminish the political power of glassworker enclaves in these small municipalities.