Nicholas County is a county in West Virginia, United States, in the west-central part of the state along the Gauley River. It had a population of 24,604 at the 2020 census and covers 654 square miles (1,694 km2) — 647 square miles (1,680 km2) of land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) of water — centred near 38°17′N 80°48′W.
Summersville is the county seat, and its postal code is 26651. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 7 census-designated places, and dozens of unincorporated communities. Nicholas County uses seven magisterial districts (Beaver, Grant, Hamilton, Jefferson, Kentucky, Summersville, and Wilderness) for elections and tax assessment rather than township government. The county sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Nicholas County
Nicholas County has two incorporated cities — Summersville, the seat, and Richwood — plus seven census-designated places (CDPs) and a long list of unincorporated crossroads communities that carry their own ZIP code or post office name. The table below lists every named place the county recognizes.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summersville | City · seat | — | 26651 |
| Richwood | City | — | 26261 |
| Belva | CDP | — | 26656 |
| Birch River | CDP | — | 26610 |
| Craigsville | CDP | — | 26205 |
| Dixie | CDP | — | 25059 |
| Fenwick | CDP | — | 26202 |
| Nettie | CDP | — | 26681 |
| Tioga | CDP | — | 26691 |
| Calvin | Unincorp. | — | 26660 |
| Canvas | Unincorp. | — | 26662 |
| Drennen | Unincorp. | — | 26667 |
| Gilboa | Unincorp. | — | 26671 |
| Keslers Cross Lanes | Unincorp. | — | 26675 |
| Leivasy | Unincorp. | — | 26676 |
| Mount Lookout | Unincorp. | — | 26678 |
| Mount Nebo | Unincorp. | — | 26679 |
| Pool | Unincorp. | — | 26684 |
| Swiss | Unincorp. | — | 26690 |
| Allingdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beaver | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beech Glen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bentree | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bright Mountain Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bruce | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burl | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cambria | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carl | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cornelia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cottle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Curtin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deepwell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Delphi | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Donald | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Enon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fowler Knob | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glade Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grassy Falls | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Green Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greendale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harriet | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holcomb | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holly Hills Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hominy Falls | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hookersville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jetsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kirkwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| LaFrank | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lockwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lyonsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marybill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Morris | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Muddlety | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nile | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Odell Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Opal | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Persinger | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Peters Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Runa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saxman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Snow Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tara Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tipton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tolbert | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vaughan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wade | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Werth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodbine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zela | Unincorp. | — | — |
Every settlement name from the prior list is carried over above, cross-checked against the county’s incorporated cities, CDPs, and ZIP-code post office towns.
ZIP Codes
- 26651 — Summersville (also serves the surrounding Beaver district)
- 26261 — Richwood
- 26205 — Craigsville
- 26679 — Mount Nebo
- 26678 — Mount Lookout
- 26681 — Nettie
- 26690 — Swiss
- 26662 — Canvas
- 26691 — Tioga
- 26610 — Birch River
- 26671 — Gilboa
- 26202 — Fenwick
- 26660 — Calvin
- 26656 — Belva
- 25059 — Dixie
- 26684 — Pool
- 26667 — Drennen
- 26676 — Leivasy
- 26675 — Keslers Cross Lanes
The remaining unincorporated crossroads communities share a ZIP with their nearest post office town rather than carrying their own code.
Geography
Nicholas County lies in the Allegheny Plateau of central West Virginia, a region of steep, forested ridges cut by the Gauley and Meadow rivers. The county contains part of Gauley River National Recreation Area and stretches of Monongahela National Forest, and its terrain runs from river-bottom flats near Summersville Lake up to ridgelines above 3,000 feet. Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, on a bluff above the Gauley, preserves the site of an 1861 Civil War engagement.
Nicholas County borders Braxton County to the north, Webster County to the northeast, Greenbrier County to the southeast, Fayette County to the southwest, Kanawha County to the west, and Clay County to the northwest.
Demographics
Nicholas County had 24,604 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 38 people per square mile. Summersville and Richwood are the two largest communities by far, together holding roughly a fifth of the county’s population; the rest is spread across CDPs and unincorporated hollows and hamlets. Median household income in the county has historically run well below the West Virginia median of $55,948, reflecting the decline of the coal and timber jobs that once anchored the local economy.
Economy & Local Life
Coal mining and timber built Nicholas County’s economy through much of the 20th century, and both industries still employ residents, though at far smaller scale than their mid-century peak. Summersville Regional Medical Center and the Nicholas County school system are among the largest current employers. Tourism tied to Summersville Lake, the Gauley River, and the Monongahela National Forest brings seasonal visitors for boating, fishing, and whitewater rafting; the Gauley’s autumn releases from Summersville Dam draw rafters from across the country.
History
The Virginia General Assembly formed Nicholas County on January 30, 1818, from parts of Kanawha, Greenbrier, and Randolph counties, naming it for Wilson Cary Nicholas, a former governor of Virginia. The county became part of West Virginia when the new state was admitted to the Union in 1863. During the Civil War, Union and Confederate forces fought the Battle of Carnifex Ferry near Keslers Cross Lanes in September 1861, a Union victory that helped secure the region for the North.
Getting There
U.S. Route 19 crosses the county north–south, linking Summersville to Interstate 79 near Sutton, and West Virginia Routes 20, 39, and 41 connect the smaller communities. Approximate distances from Summersville:
- Charleston, WV — 55 miles west
- Beckley, WV — 40 miles south
- Lewisburg, WV — 60 miles southeast
- Sutton, WV — 20 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Yeager Airport in Charleston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Nicholas County, West Virginia?
It sits in the west-central part of the state, in the Allegheny Plateau along the Gauley River, between Charleston and Beckley.
What is the population of Nicholas County?
Nicholas County had a population of 24,604 at the 2020 census.
How big is Nicholas County?
The county covers 654 square miles (1,694 km2), of which 647 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Nicholas County?
Summersville is the county seat.
How many towns and communities are in Nicholas County?
The county has 2 incorporated cities, 7 census-designated places, and dozens of unincorporated communities, listed above.
What ZIP codes are in Nicholas County?
The county has 19 ZIP codes, led by 26651 (Summersville) and 26261 (Richwood); see the list above.
What is Nicholas County known for?
Whitewater rafting on the Gauley River and boating on Summersville Lake, along with its coal and timber history.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in West Virginia.