Lowell, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lowell, West Virginia
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 Lowell, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Lowell, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Summers |
| Elevation | 1,519 ft (463 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1555005 |
Lowell is a small, quiet community in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government, but a special kind of place called an unincorporated community. You can find Lowell right next to the Greenbrier River. It's east of a town called Hinton and southwest of Alderson. Lowell has a long history, being first settled way back in 1770. This makes it the oldest community in all of Summers County!
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Exploring Lowell's Location
Lowell is located at 37°39′16″N 80°43′44″W / 37.65444°N 80.72889°W. It sits in a hilly area known as the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians. The land here is about 1,519 feet (463 meters) above sea level. The Greenbrier River flows right through Lowell, running from north to south. Other smaller streams, like Kelly Creek and Wind Creek, also flow into the Greenbrier River nearby.
Nearby Towns and Services
The closest place to send mail for Lowell is in Talcott. Talcott is about 1.9 miles (3.1 km) west of Lowell and has a ZIP code of 24981. The nearest actual town to Lowell is Alderson. Alderson is about 10.9 miles (17.5 km) northeast of Lowell. It's located in both Greenbrier and Monroe counties. If you need to visit the county seat for Summers County, that's Hinton. Hinton is about 12.5 miles (20.1 km) west of Lowell.
Lowell's Fascinating History
Lowell was first settled in 1770 by a man named Colonel James Graham. This was the very first settlement in what we now call Summers County. Soon after, Samuel and James Gwinn, who were neighbors of Colonel Graham, also moved to Lowell. The Keller family, another important family in the early days of Summers County, also settled there.
Early Challenges and Growth
In 1777, Lowell faced a difficult time when Native Americans attacked the settlement. Sadly, three people from Mr. Graham's household were killed, and his daughter was taken. It took eight long years for Colonel Graham to get his daughter back.
Later, around 1871 or 1872, two brothers, A.C. Lowe and Erastus Preston Lowe, moved to Lowell. They built a hotel and started a business in the community. Before this, the settlement didn't have a name! It was eventually named Lowell after the Lowe family. During this time, Lowell became an important place for trade. It was the main shipping point for the Red Sulphur Springs until 1904. Lowell even had its own post office by 1908, though it is now closed.
Historic Buildings to Explore
Lowell is home to two special places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Col. James Graham House and the Samuel Gwinn Plantation.
- The Col. James Graham House was built by Colonel Graham when he first settled in Lowell in 1770. It's a log cabin and was considered one of the best houses in the area when it was built.
- The Samuel Gwinn Plantation was also started in 1770 as the home of the Gwinn family. It includes a main house built in 1868 and eight other buildings. The whole plantation covers about 4 acres (1.6 hectares).
Getting Around Lowell
The main roads that go through Lowell are West Virginia Route 3 and West Virginia Route 12. These two roads run together on the west side of the Greenbrier River. On the east side of the river, you'll find Summers County Route 15. Other smaller county roads in the area include Route 3/42, Route 3/44, Route 3/46, Route 15/1, and Route 15/2. Route 3/42 is a bridge that crosses the Greenbrier River, connecting the eastern and western parts of Lowell. The closest major highway, Interstate 64, has an exit in Sandstone, which is northwest of Lowell.
Train Travel and Connections
A CSX train line also runs through Lowell. This line crosses the Greenbrier River on a bridge right in the community. This same train line is used by Amtrak's Cardinal service. If you want to catch a train, the closest Amtrak stations to Lowell are in Alderson and Hinton.
