Rupert, West Virginia (WV), a community in Greenbrier County, was founded by and named for Dr. Cyrus A. Rupert and incorporated in 1945. Rupert is situated on the Meadow River just downstream of the Big Meadows, the region of meadows in which the river originates.
History of Rupert
Rupert, West Virginia, is a small town in Greenbrier County whose history is closely tied to the expansion of railroads and the timber and coal industries in the early 20th century. The community was founded in 1905 along the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, which transformed the remote Greenbrier Valley into a corridor for industrial development and commerce.
Rupert was named for William E. Rupert, a railroad official, reflecting the central role rail transportation played in the townโs creation. Its location provided access to vast hardwood forests and nearby coal resources, making it an attractive site for industry during West Virginiaโs industrial boom.
In its early decades, Rupert developed as a classic railroad and company town, supporting sawmills, coal operations, warehouses, and rail facilities. The town quickly grew as workers and their families arrived.
Businesses such as hotels, stores, and service establishments followed. Like many Appalachian industrial communities, Rupert experienced its greatest prosperity in the first half of the 20th century, when timber and coal production were at their peak. The railroad provided steady employment and a vital link to regional and national markets.
By the mid-20th century, changes in transportation, resource extraction, and industrial practices led to a gradual decline in Rupertโs population and economic base. As timber resources were depleted and coal employment declined, many residents left in search of work elsewhere.
Today, Rupert remains a small incorporated town, notable for its railroad heritage and its role in Greenbrier Countyโs industrial history. The communityโs story reflects broader patterns in southern West Virginia, where railroads and natural resources shaped settlement, growth, and long-term demographic change.
Lodging near Rupert, West Virginia
Parks & Public Recreation
The Meadow River Wildlife Management Area is located south of the community.
Location
Rupert is located on highway US-60, approximately five miles west of Rainelle, West Virginia, and six miles north of the I-64 expressway at Sam Black Church, West Virginia.
Map of Rupert, West Virginia
Regional Information
Rupert is located in the Greenbrier Valley Region in southeastern West Virginia near the Allegheny Highlands Region.
