Best Small Town in WV (Charleston, Summersville: neighborhoods, subdivisions, places to eat)

[Chriscross309]

Kingwood, Hinton, Bluefeild/Prinston,
Snowshoe, Phillipi, Petersburg, Romney, Walton, Helvitia,

and Charleston minus 40,000 people haha

and yes, both of my lists are biased

[KKnopp]

Vienna

[Silkdashocker]

I'm very suprised i'm seeing the town of Mobley popping up on so many lists and conversations. I don't believe i've ever been there, can anyone shed some light on it?

Also, i am a little shocked to see Marmet listed. I've been there, and it seems a little run down and not vibrant enough to be considered one of WV's best small towns.

Noticing a lot of the Eastern Mountain towns on here as expected. I'm sure there are quite a few i haven't been to. Most of the ones i've seen are nice. Richwood was once a proud, bustling town, but now it is dead and losing population fast. At least the town has the Lumberjack football team that is now 3-0!

Some of these towns are so small and lack any GDP or income. Why are people listing them? I wouldn't think an unincorporated town should make this list.

[NOVAmtneer82]

I've never heard of Mobley either...maybe that is why it is so highly regarded as a nice place.

I'm a huge fan of Shepherdstown and Harpers Ferry, they have a lot of great amenities for day trips and are an easy jaunt out from the Beltway. I really like Berkeley Springs also.

This may sound random but I am a big fan of Lewisburg. I love the downtown area along with the surrounding Greenbrier County countryside.

I don't see the big fuss about Summersville though. Aside from the lake there isn't really that much there IMO. I guess it is rather close to the New River Gorge along with a few other camping destinations. Richwood is nearly abandoned, some of that likely attributed to Summersville becoming the "hub" so to speak of Nicholas County.

I'm with Silk about Marmet. As someone who grew up in Charleston it doesn't strike me as a place that belongs on such a list. Then again neither does Elkview.

[BJC]

NOVAmtneer82, Summersville is not "becoming the hub" of Nichlas County. It has always been the county seat. There are many more things to do in Summersville than the lake, although the lake is VERY nice.

[snorpus]

I find the strip along 19 in Summersville a little too "busy" for my tastes; but I think a couple of miles out of town would likely be very nice. Some pretty farms east of town on the way to Richwood (Rte 39, I think it is.).

[jdlarocque]

I vote for Berkley Springs. I love the town center area.

[BJC]

Snorpus, I agree with you on the strip along 19, Northside as it is called. Summersville is so much more that place! I wish the downtown area was better, meaning more stores for strolling along the streets. Most of the buildings are filled with attorneys so they can be close to the court house.

[Silkdashocker]

I've never been to Berkeley Springs, sounds like a nice town.

Nova, i agree about Elkview too. There's really nothing charming about the place. The location is nice and the people there are friendly between Falling Rock and Big Chimney, but it really doesn't have it's own vibe like other small towns.

[NOVAmtneer82]

Originally Posted by BJC

NOVAmtneer82, Summersville is not "becoming the hub" of Nichlas County. It has always been the county seat. There are many more things to do in Summersville than the lake, although the lake is VERY nice.

I'm more than aware that Summersville is the county seat of Nicholas County...I did indeed take West Virginia history in grade school and I've had family living in that area for over 100 years. I spent many summers on the lake and visiting the town. My point is that at one time Richwood (as recently as the 1970s) was larger than Summersville and very much the industry hub of the county. As US 19 was expanded and Richwood's heavy industry began to fall apart, the focus of power and commerce shifted in the county to Summersville.

Summersville Lake is indeed very beautiful but what else is there really to do in town other than that? I'll give you Kirkwood Winery although I'm not a big fan. I guess there is also that ranch that has cabins outside of town in Canvas..had a family reunion there a couple summers ago.