Thurmond, WV

Thurmond, during the first two decades of the 1900s, was a classic boomtown. With the huge amounts of coal brought in from area mines, it had the largest revenue on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. Having many coal barons among its patrons, it's banks were the richest in the state. Fifteen passenger trains a day came through town -- its depot serving as many as 95,000 passengers a year. The town's stores and saloons did a remarkable business, and its hotels and boarding houses were constantly overflowing.  Travelers could catch one of the fourteen passenger trains that came through Thurmond each day. Over one hundred people worked directly for the railroad as laborers, machinists, brakemen, engineers, dispatchers, and baggage handlers. Many others served the town as bankers, druggists, cobblers, clerks, and waitresses.

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The National Park Service owns much of Thurmond today . The C&O passenger railway depot in town was renovated in 1995 and now functions as an NPS visitor center                                  

The town was the filming location for 1987 movie Matewan since it still possesses many of the characteristics of a 1920s Appalachian coal mining towns. 

Thurmond's population was 7 at the 2000 census.  During the 2005 city elections, six of the city's seven residents sought elected office.

Driving to Thurmond 

2007

After turning off of US 19 (on to SR 16/61) there are 8 one lane bridges crossing Dunloup Creek before reaching Thurmond

Crossing over New River on the old Steel Bridge

See Thurmond Today
http://www.coalcampusa.com/sowv/river/thurmond/thurmond.htm

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