Thomas, West Virginia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas, West Virginia
City
East Avenue in Thomas in 2006
Location of Thomas in Tucker County, West Virginia.
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Tucker
Area
• Total	4.51 sq mi (11.67 km²)
• Land	4.46 sq mi (11.55 km²)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.12 km²)
Elevation	3,035 ft (925 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	623
• Estimate (2021)	614
• Density	123.32/sq mi (47.61/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	26292
Area code(s)	304
FIPS code	54-80020
GNIS feature ID	1555802

Thomas is a small city in Tucker County, West Virginia, United States. It used to be a busy coal town. In 2020, about 623 people lived there.

History of Thomas
Geography and Climate
- Local Climate
Population Changes
- Thomas in 2010
Images for kids
See also

History of Thomas

Thomas was planned out in 1884. It was named after Thomas Beall Davis, whose brother was Senator Henry Gassaway Davis. In 1883, the Davis brothers opened a coal mine near Thomas. They were ready to ship coal when their railway arrived a year later.

Coal Mining Boom

By 1892, the Davis Coal and Coke company was one of the biggest coal companies in the world. It employed 1,600 people. At its busiest in 1915, there were nine mines working near the company's office in Thomas.

Many immigrants came to Thomas to work in the mines or on the railroad. Some also came to open businesses. The company even hired an interpreter named Wladyslaw Dackiewicz. He could speak eight languages, which was very helpful for all the new people arriving.

Rebuilding After a Fire

In 1901, a big fire destroyed almost half of Thomas. About 83 buildings were lost in less than two hours. But the city quickly rebuilt. They built fancy hotels and a new opera house. The Cottrill Opera House had a saloon on its first floor. It was the nicest of the eight bars on Front Street. In 1909, Front Street became the first paved street in the county.

Thomas also had a very grand railway station. It was built of brick in 1901. People said it was the best station between Cumberland, Maryland, and Elkins, West Virginia. Sadly, a tornado destroyed it in 1944.

End of an Era

In 1921, the production of coke (a fuel made from coal) stopped. Mining operations also slowed down. This meant fewer jobs and less activity in Thomas.

Today, some important places in Thomas are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Cottrill Opera House, the Davis Coal and Coke Company Administrative Building, the Fairfax Stone, and the Thomas Commercial Historic District.

Geography and Climate

Thomas is located along the North Fork of the Blackwater River. The city covers about 4.51 square miles (11.67 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Local Climate

Thomas has a climate where the differences between high and low temperatures are not too extreme. It also gets enough rain throughout the year. This type of weather is called a humid continental climate.

Population Changes

Thomas has seen its population change over the years. It grew a lot during the coal mining boom. After the mines slowed down, the population decreased. Recently, it has started to grow again.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	269	—
1900	2,126	690.3%
1910	2,354	10.7%
1920	2,099	−10.8%
1930	1,660	−20.9%
1940	1,449	−12.7%
1950	1,146	−20.9%
1960	830	−27.6%
1970	713	−14.1%
1980	747	4.8%
1990	573	−23.3%
2000	452	−21.1%
2010	586	29.6%
2020	623	6.3%
2021 (est.)	614	4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

Thomas in 2010

According to the 2010 census, 586 people lived in Thomas. There were 253 households. Most of the people living in the city were White (99.5%). A small number were Native American or of two or more races.