Camp Dawson was established on May 7, 1909, when the
West Virginia Legislature authorized the purchase of of land on
Dunkard Bottom along the
Cheat River. The camp was named in honor of
William M. O. Dawson, a native of Preston County, who had just left office as Governor of West Virginia in 1908. Troops first trained at Camp Dawson during that summer and continued until the entry of the U.S. into
World War I in 1917. The camp was not used again until 1928 when it was reestablished as a training site for the West Virginia State Militia, a predecessor organization to the West Virginia National Guard. Units trained regularly at the camp until the outbreak of
World War II at which time the state government leased the camp for use as a
prisoner of war facility. Since the original land purchase, six additional tracts have been acquired by the installation bringing the total acreage to . Training opportunities that are unique to the site and its environs, such as the very rugged local terrain, have attracted U.S Army units and sister military services (both Active and Reserve) for many years. The campus hosts selection for
Delta Force. ==Tenant units==