The town of Thurmond, West Virginia sits along the track that travel next to the New River. I would call it a ghost town but according to the last census it still has five residents that call it home. The town was incorporated in 1900 and named after Captain W. D. Thurmond, who settled in the region after he was given the 73 acre site as payment for a surveying job.
The town of Thurmond grew rapidly as coal trains passed through the town. Many railroad workers and miners lived in the town or at least visited it and spent their hard earned money. Thurmond’s banks were the richest in the state for a short time. After the mines closed and the steam locomotives gave way to diesel the population of the town dwindled. With most of its citizens gone, the post office closed in 1995.
Most of the town is now owned by the National Park Service and is part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The old train depot is now a visitors center.
Trains still pass through the historic town and the depot is a stop for Amtrak. It is a beautiful drive to get to Thurmond and is one of my favorite places I have visited since I started this website. If you get a chance to visit it, I highly recommend it.
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