Alderson, West Virginia (WV), a community on the Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County and Monroe County, was settled in 1777 by John Alderson, a frontier missionary for whom the town was named. Here, he founded a Baptist seminary that was later relocated to Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia.
The Federal Reformatory for Women, the first federal prison for women, was established here in 1927. The town is renowned for its annual Independence Day festival.
Lodging near Alderson, West Virginia
Parks & Public Recreation
The Alderson Bridge over the scenic Greenbrier River is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The following public recreation areas are located within a drive of approximately 20 miles of the community.
History
Alderson’s story begins amid turbulent times in the Greenbrier Valley. In 1763, the nearby Muddy Creek settlements were destroyed by Shawnee warriors under Chief Cornstalk. It wasn’t until 1777 that the area was settled by “Elder” John Alderson, a frontier missionary.
Alderson founded the first Baptist church in the valley and later established a Baptist seminary, which eventually evolved into Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia. The town was incorporated in 1881 and grew significantly thanks to its strategic location along the Greenbrier River and as a livestock shipping hub on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.
Throughout the early 1900s, the town emerged as a regional center for education, with institutions such as Alderson Academy and Junior College operating in town before merging to form Alderson-Broaddus College in 1932. In 1927, Alderson also gained national prominence with the opening of the Federal Industrial Institute for Women—later known as the Federal Reformatory for Women—which was the first federal prison for women in the United States.
Today, Alderson’s rich architectural legacy is preserved in its historic district. This 139-acre district includes nearly 200 buildings spanning multiple styles—Federal, Greek Revival, Queen Anne—and notable landmarks such as the 1896 Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad depot, Alderson’s Store (dating back to 1887 and housed in an Art Deco structure), City Hall, and the site of the historic ferry dating to 1789.
Alderson’s Store, founded by descendants of the town’s namesake, has remained in continuous operation and reflects both entrepreneurial legacy and historic preservation.
Amtrak Passenger Station
Amtrak provides rail service to Alderson through its Cardinal line, which runs three times a week between New York City and Chicago. Alderson is a flag stop, meaning the train only halts there if a reservation has been made for boarding or departure. The small station, located downtown, is unstaffed and offers no ticketing or baggage services, so travelers must plan ahead. Despite its simplicity, the stop is historically significant, as it sits beside the town’s 1896 Chesapeake & Ohio Railway depot, which remains a landmark in Alderson’s historic district.
Location
The community is located approximately 15 miles southwest of the Greenbrier County seat at Lewisburg, West Virginia, and 20 miles northwest of the Monroe County seat at Union, West Virginia.
Map of Alderson, West Virginia
Regional Information
Alderson is located in the Greenbrier Valley Region of southern West Virginia.
