Ronceverte, West Virginia (WV), a community in Greenbrier County, was platted in 1871 and incorporated in 1882. Its name is derived from the French for Greenbrier, i.e., "Ronce verte", that is "brier green." Ronceverte is situated on the north bank of the Greenbrier River and the mainline of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. Organ Cave is located south of the town.
Lodging near Ronceverte, West Virginia
History
Ronceverte began taking shape in 1871, when Colonel Cecil Clay, the head of the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company, laid out the town as part of establishing a sawmill and lumber operations in the Greenbrier River Valley. The name "Ronceverte"—French for “green briar”—was chosen by Clay, who reportedly found it on an old Jesuit map and believed it was both aesthetically pleasing and fitting for the area.
The town became officially incorporated in 1882, with A. E. White served as its first mayor. Early on, Ronceverte stood out as a major shipping point for railroad ties, lumber, and agricultural products—thanks to its strategic location along the north bank of the Greenbrier River and its connectivity via the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.
As railway activity grew, Ronceverte's C&O station became a critical transportation hub. The first depot, built in 1891, quickly reached capacity, and by the early 1900s, passenger ticketing and freight shipments had multiplied dramatically. By 1906, passenger traffic exceeded 42,000, reflecting the town’s booming role in regional commerce and the logging industry.
Its historic district includes the 1915 C&O Passenger Depot, the former City Hall, Gothic churches, brick-paved streets, and homes dating back to the early 19th century, such as the 1832 “Edgarton” residence. Another enduring landmark nearby is the Hokes Mill Covered Bridge, built between 1897 and 1899, which remains one of only two surviving covered bridges in Greenbrier County.
Location
Location Ronceverte is located on highway US-219 and WV-63, approximately four miles south of Lewisburg, West Virginia, and 16 miles north of Union, West Virginia. The community of Fairlea, West Virginia, home of the State Fair of West Virginia, is located just north of the community.
Map of Ronceverte, West Virginia
Regional Information
Ronceverte is located in the Greenbrier Valley Region in southeastern West Virginia.
