Brief History

Thomas was settled in the 1880s with the discovery of vast coal seams and the corresponding arrival of the WV Central & Pitt Railway. Alongside the timber and railroad industries, The Davis Coal and Coke company (one of the largest coal companies in the world at that time) employed 1,600 people from all over the world, including Austrian, Jewish, Russian, Polish, and Italian immigrants (and an interpreter who could speak eight languages).

Prosperity brought fine hotels, Cottrill’s Opera House, a grand railway station, high-end clothing shops, saloons and bars, and a melting pot of European descent, which is still reflected in the architecture of Front Street today.

Incorporated in 1892, Thomas, West Virginia, has an elevation of 3,035 feet. In 1910, during the height of the Davis Coal and Coke Company’s production, Thomas boasted a population of 2,354.

When the last coal mine closed in 1956, Thomas residents knew hard times would soon arrive. As the work dwindled, so did the population. As of the 2020 census, Thomas has 623 residents.

It hasn’t been easy, but Thomas has revived itself in true Mountaineer spirit. It has become a weekend destination for West Virginians and tourists from surrounding states. Thomas's business district is again thriving thanks to art, music, outdoor recreation, quaint shops, restaurants, and annual festivals such as Mountaineer Days and ArtSpring. Even Cottrill’s Opera House is slated for a restoration to its former glory.