Cedar Grove, WV

Set along the banks of the Kanawha River, Cedar Grove holds the title of the oldest settlement in the Upper Kanawha Valley. The town gets its name from early settlers who mistook the valley's native juniper trees for cedar. Today, it is a quiet, close-knit community of roughly 700 residents. Living here puts you right on U.S. Route 60, which makes traveling up and down the valley toward Charleston simple and scenic.

ATTRMichael Kotrady / CC BY-SA 4.0

Daily life here centers around a compact, easy-to-navigate layout where neighbors know one another. Families have local schooling close to home with Cedar Grove Elementary, which sits right in town alongside a community park and convenient fishing spots along the water. Between its riverside recreation, accessible local services, and relaxed pace, Cedar Grove appeals to anyone looking for affordable, small-town living with the outdoors right in their backyard.