9 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in West Virginia
West Virginia's state motto says, "Almost Heaven," and judging by its clutch of attractive small towns, the slogan seems particularly well-chosen. The Mountain State has been home to a great deal of history along the eastern seaboard of the United States, whether from colonial times, to Revolution and the US Civil War, to more modern developments in the recreation and leisure of America's national parks. It is little wonder that West Virginia can boast America's newest national park, called New River Gorge (details below). For natural beauty or for its deep historical roots, these towns in West Virginia are hard for any new visitor to forget.
Morgantown
Morgantown, population 30,300, is beloved as West Virginia's quintessential college town. Home to the West Virginia University (WVU), the town, site on the Monongahela River in north-central West Virginia, lies close to the border with Pennsylvania and around 75 miles south of Pittsburgh. WVU students may be well-known as hard partyers, but Morgantown itself offers travelers quaint travel gems that are hard to find elsewhere in the state. For culture, and outside of WVU's offerings, visitors should seek out the Metropolitan Theatre and the Monongalia Arts Center, which takes its name from the surrounding county. The Morgantown History Museum, which describes the area's crucial role in the French and Indian War, a precursor to the American Revolution. Morgantown's attractive green spaces vary widely, from the Core Arboretum and the Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park, to the Deckers Creek and Caperton Rail-Trails that have been re-fitted from old rail lines and turned into recreational spaces.
Fairmont
Seated some 20 miles southwest of Morgantown, Fairmont, with 18,200 people, makes for another worthwhile visit. Fairmont lies along the Monongahela River, making it a picturesque place and a river-focused area for nature lovers and tourists. Nearby Tygart Lake State Park and the West Virginia Botanic Gardens should give floral enthusiasts plenty of reason to make the journey. The town also sustains Fairmont State University, a small public college with fewer than 4,000 students. For those who love a good snack with a local history, visitors should look for a pepperoni roll, a local innovation that was once popular in West Virginia's coal mines — and which reflects the state's large number of Italian immigrants. Those need some fresh air can head to Palatine Park, or for some more history, to Pricketts Fort State Park, which remembers frontier life both before and after America's struggle for independence.
Martinsburg
The town of Martinsburg, with 19,000 inhabitants, lies in West Virginia's eastern "Panhandle," the arm of state territory that extends between neighboring Maryland and Virginia. Martinsburg is often considered an entry point to the Shenandoah Valley, a world-reknowned mountain range and natural area that is part of the larger Appalachian mountain range. Travelers can get to Martinsburg via Amtrak, the US' public rail system, or via the nearby Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport. For a blend of history and the outdoors, head to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, which commemorates the historic canal project that advanced trade and commerce between the Chesapeake estuary, Washington, DC, and the state of Ohio.
Shepherdstown
Shepherdstown, population just 1,500, sits over the border from neighboring Maryland, on the western bank of the Potomac River. With a famous historic downtown, the town's central zone is defined by Colonel Revival and Federal-style architecture. The town boasts a statue to James Rumsey, an 18th-century pioneer of the modern steamship. History buffs should include Shepherdstown on their travel itinerary, given its rich past and status as a site of the Civil War. Following the defeat on September 17, 1862, of the Southern army at Antietam, Maryland, the armies waged battle at Shepherdstown three days later. Still today, the town's Elmwood Cemetery holds the graves of hundreds of Confederate soldiers who perished here.
Hinton
The town of Hinton, with 2,200 inhabitants, lies in West Virginia's rural southeast. The town owes its founding in part to the confluence of the Bluestone, Greenbrier, and New Rivers. Hinton's downtown enjoys inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, given the town's onetime status as a stop on the Chesapeake and Ohio rail line. History fans can take in the town's railroad museum, or enjoy the diverse styles of architecture in the town's historic core, which offers examples of Classical Revival, Late Victorian, and American Four-Square constructions. The Hinton Railroad Bridge, a photogenic structure the stretches across the New River, is another landmark from the golden days of rail. Hinton lies close to New River Gorge National Park — named a national park only in 2022, it is the newest park to America's national protected natural areas.
Barboursville
Reputed locally as "the best little village in the state," Barboursville, with 4,400 inhabitants, offers small-town quaintness in spades. It lies along the Ohio River in West Virginia's southwest, just across the river from the state of Ohio. Barboursville's green spaces include Beech Fork State Park as well as Beech Fork Lake, a great place for relaxing, boating and fishing, or spending time with family and friends. Barboursville Park offers facilities for all kids of team sports, as well as fishing ponds and grounds for equestrian and other horse-related activities. Among the town's historical sites, there remains today a pre-Civil War toll house, which helped regulate local commerce. Like Hinton, Barboursville's downtown appears on the National Register of Historic Places.
White Sulphur Springs
White Sulphur Springs, population 2,200, is found in Greenbrier County, in West Virginia's southeast. Among the town's main draws is the Greenbrier, a well-known luxury mountain resort. The town's tradition as a place of rest and recupration, tied in part to its abundance of local natural springs, earned it the nickname "Queen of the Watering Places." The town's upscale pedigree only deepens in view of its ties with golf: in 1884, a prominent family founded the Oakhurst Links, becoming the first official golf club in the United States.
The town itself offers a wide menu of interesting places, including Big Draft Brewing, Rosa Hog’s BBQ, and other quality dining and drinking. The town and its many attractions are accessible via rail, notably on Amtrak's Cardinal route between Chicago and Washington, DC.
Thomas
With a population of a mere 600, the village of Thomas, despite its size, offers ample doses of charm. The town's riverside main street stands among the most vibrant in West Virginia history, and showed the many faces of the state's various immigrant communities when they were still new to the state. A classic West Virginia coal town, many foreign workers came to work the mines then in operation. Founded in 1884, the town takes its name from Thomas Davis, brother of West Virginia politican and fellow coal tycoon, Henry Davis. The brothers' legacy as owners of the Davis Coal and Coke corporation continues to show its influence in Thomas, and the surrounding region.
Today, the town's main street, known as East Avenue, still retains its rustic charm, with coffee shops, music venues like the Purple Fiddle, crafts stores, and other small businesses.
Davis
Davis, which draws its name from the some brotherly combination that founded Thomas, has 600 residents. The town serves as a launch pad for local skiing and hiking, especially given its position near Blackwater Falls State Park, the Dolly Sods Wilderness area, the Canaan Valley ski resort and golf area, and the Little Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge. Davis even has a craft beer scene, and visitors can choose a pint at Stumptown Ales, spirits at New Heritage Distilling — or both. Popular places to eat in Davis include Smokehouse at Blackwater, Sirianni's, the Sawmill Restaurant, and Hellbender Burritos. Davis wears its history on its sleeve, and aside from its involvement in local coal mining, the town also served as an important logging community. The nearby confluence of the Blackwater River and Beaver Creek facilitated moving felled logs via local waterways and toward waiting buyers.
In Conclusion
Given its rich history and vibrant culture, reasons abound to make West Virginia the next stop on your travel schedule. Morgantown and Fairmont serve as perfect examples of college towns, while Martinsburg and Hinton provide vibrant slices of the rail history that transformed West Virginia and the surrounding region. Even the smallest towns, like Davis or Thomas, offer the attentive visitor a visit rich in culture, history, natural sights — and a delicious taste of local beer or spirits. With so much of interest across West Virginia's small towns, the curious traveler should put the state next on his or her list.
