THURMOND, WEST VIRGINIA (pop. 5) | June, 2013
A West Virginia coal-mining "ghost town," now part of the New River Gorge National River Recreation Area, Thurmond, WV, still has a population of 5...and a whole lot of beautifully-preserved buildings from its heyday as a coal mining center in the early 1900s. While we were there, two massive 150-car freight trains, hauling coal to market, passed thru Thurmond -- so it is still an active rail line; just not an active coal-mining town anymore. And, believe it or not, you can still book Amtrak passenger train service in and out of Thurmond!
VIDEO BONUS: Check out the brief video clip of one of those coal trains easing thru Thurmond: