Fort Spring, West Virginia

Fort Spring
Unincorporated community
Fort Spring Location within the state of West Virginia
Coordinates: 37°44′42″N 80°32′21″W / 37.74500°N 80.53917°W / 37.74500; -80.53917Coordinates: 37°44′42″N 80°32′21″W / 37.74500°N 80.53917°W / 37.74500; -80.53917
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Greenbrier
Elevation	1,637 ft (499 m)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
GNIS feature ID	1539161[1]

Fort Spring is an unincorporated community and coal town in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA. It is situated along the Greenbrier River within the Greenbrier River Watershed. It was once a substantial portion of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway by way of the Gravel Girtie route from Hinton in Summers County, West Virginia to Clifton Forge in Virginia. The name comes from its main export; Mississippian limestone from Snowflake Quarry sent to Clifton Forge, Virginia The main road going through the small town was once the original rail line, but was moved.

Fort Spring was originally called "Mann's Ferry" and the community's current name refers to the old settler fort that has been lost to history. The rock cliff, or bluff, seen just prior to the primary two train tunnels when traveling eastward, was named 'Wilson's Bluff' due to a family settled there. Colonel John Stuart, who shipped Ice Age sloth bones (Megalonyx jeffersonii) to Thomas Jefferson, noted the presence of saltpetre caves in the area. The area is a combination of karst topography, riparian floodplain and ancient riverbeds with limestone (karst) outcropping mixing with farmlands and deciduous forest. The only available drinking water is by drilled wells or cistern or transportation.

Thanks to recent West Virginia tourism promotions, Fort Spring is a known spot for setting down kayaks and other types of boats for day trips to the nearby town of Alderson.

See also

• Greenbrier River
• Greenbrier River Watershed Association

Sources

• Jones, William K. "The Karst Hydrology Atlas of West Virginia
• Jones, William K. "Hydrology of Limestone Karst." 1973
• McCue, J. B., Lucke, and Woodward, H.P., 1939, WVGES
• "Greenbrier County" 1939 United States Geological Survey
• "What is this Thing, Thomas Jefferson?" Wilson, Marcia 2005 Unpublished Thesis

References

Municipalities and communities of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States County seat: Lewisburg Cities Lewisburg Ronceverte White Sulphur Springs Towns Alderson‡ Falling Spring Quinwood Rainelle Rupert CDP Fairlea Other communities Alta Alvon Anjean Anthony Asbury Auto Bellburn Bingham Blaker Mills Blue Bend Blue Sulphur Springs Bowes Brantville Burdette Caldwell Charmco Clearco Clendenenville Clintonville Cobb Cordova Cornstalk Crag Crawley Crichton Dawson Dennis Dickson Droop Mountain Duo Esty Farmdale Fort Donnally Fort Spring Frankford Frazier Friars Hill Gardner Golden Grassy Meadows Half Way Henning Hickory Grove Hines Hokes Mill Hopper Horrock Hughart Julia Keister Kessler Kieffer Lawn Leonard Leslie Lile Lilly Park Loopemount Loveridge Mapledale Marfrance Maxwelton McRoss Meadow Bluff Modoc Morlunda Neola North Bend North Caldwell Nutterville Organ Cave Orient Hill Oscar Palestine Patton‡ Piercys Mill Renicks Valley Richlands Rock Cliff Rockland Rorer Sam Black Church Shawver‡ Shawvers Crossing Shryock Sims Smoot Snowflake Spring Creek Sue Sunlight Teaberry Trainer Trout Tuckahoe Unus Vago Vale Whiteoak Grove Wild Meadow Williamsburg Woodman Ghost towns Alum Springs Brink Bryant Fairview McClung Walker Hill Whitcomb Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties