Dameron, West Virginia
Dameron | |
|---|---|
Dameron Location within the state of West Virginia Dameron Dameron (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 37°49′31″N 81°22′9″W / 37.82528°N 81.36917°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Raleigh |
| Elevation | 1,716 ft (523 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS ID | 1558355[1] |
Dameron is an unincorporated community in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. The community was named after the local Dameron family.[2] It is classified as a populated place owing to its lack of a local government and is administered at the county level.[2]
History
The community was named after the Dameron family, reflecting a common naming pattern in Appalachian settlements tied to early landholding families.[3] In 1899, the Dameron post office was opened providing the earliest documented institutional presence of the community.[3]
Dameron exists within the economic framework of Raleigh County, which historically developed around coal mining (Appalachian Coalfields), rail transport, and extraction industries.[2][3] It would later diversify into services and regional commerce (centered in Beckley).[3]
Location
Located in southwestern Virginia, within the Appalachian region, Dameron is located at approximately 1,710-1,716 feet (521-523 meters) above sea level.[3] Beckley is situated 10 miles east, a regional hub.[3] Other nearby settlements include Lester, Pax, and Glen White. The area broadly forms part of the central Appalachian region, characterized by mountainous terrain, resource-based economies, and rural settlement dispersion.[3]
References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dameron, West Virginia
- ^ a b c Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 199.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Dameron (Raleigh County, WV)". roadsidethoughts.com. Retrieved March 17, 2026.