Richwood West Virginia Map

About Richwood, West Virginia

Richwood is a locality in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States. It has a population of approximately 1,660. The population density is 398.1 people per km². Richwood is located at 38.2248°N, 80.5331°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. Richwood is an incorporated locality. ZIP code: 26261.

Richwood occupies a narrow basin where the Cherry River carves a path through the dense, verdant canopy of the rugged interior. It lies 47.2 miles northeast of Beckley, WV (from Beckley, WV: bearing 49°T), and is situated 9.8 miles southeast of Craigsville. The landscape rises in steep, timbered slopes that define the horizon, feeling the distant, shadowed presence of the Appalachian Mountains that stand as silent sentinels over the valley. Here, the air holds a persistent coolness, often thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves from the surrounding hardwoods. Within the quiet perimeter of the Sterling Spencer Memorial Sculpture Garden, the interplay of light and shadow shifts across the terrain, lending a contemplative stillness to the afternoon as the water flows steadily toward the low-lying basin of Handle Factory Hollow.

Richwood grew from the rugged ambition of the timber industry, once a bustling hub where the rhythm of the saw defined the pulse of the day. The legacy of those early extraction years remains etched into the character of the place, shifting now toward a quieter endurance that honors its resilience. Residents find their way toward the Barrenshe Trail when the light turns gold, moving through landscapes that have seen the rise and fall of coal-camp fortunes. Although the pace of life has settled, the connection to the land persists, mirrored by the proximity of Summersville Lake, where the water gathers in the basin ten miles away. Every corner of the region speaks to a tradition of rugged self-reliance, maintaining a stoic beauty that endures long after the heavy machinery has fallen silent.

About This Richwood Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Richwood, West Virginia. Coordinates: 38.224837, -80.533141. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.

Detailed location data for Richwood includes the ZIP code (26261), telephone area code (304), county seat of Nicholas County (Summersville), and school district assignment (Nicholas County School District).

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.