Princeton (West Virginia)

Princeton is a city of 6,347 people (as of 2000) in West Virginia. It was established in 1838 and named for Princeton, New Jersey, where General Hugh Mercer &mdash; an apothecary from Fredericksburg, Virginia, for whom Mercer County was named &mdash; was killed in a Revolutionary War battle.

Understand
Princeton's proximity to I-77 makes it a popular lodging stop for travelers. The city features a long strip of historic commercial buildings along the length of Mercer St.

The outlying community of Athens, 15 minutes northeast of Princeton on WV-20 is the location of Concord University.

Get in
Princeton is on US-19 just northeast of Bluefield and south of Beckley. US-460 leads from just south of Princeton to Blacksburg, Virginia.

Get around
The downtown along Mercer St. is walkable between the train tracks and the county courthouse; otherwise a car is necessary for travel in the region.

Eat

 * A Taste of Memphis, 1275 Stafford Dr, 304-425-9667. Barbecue and steak.
 * A Taste of Memphis, 1275 Stafford Dr, 304-425-9667. Barbecue and steak.

Mid-range

 * McKeever Lodge, Pipestem Resort State Park. 113 rooms. Gorge-view rooms, executive suites and jacuzzi rooms available. Indoor heated pool, saunas, outdoor hot tub, exercise room, game room. On-site full-service restaurant and snack bar. $59 - $165.
 * McKeever Lodge, Pipestem Resort State Park. 113 rooms. Gorge-view rooms, executive suites and jacuzzi rooms available. Indoor heated pool, saunas, outdoor hot tub, exercise room, game room. On-site full-service restaurant and snack bar. $59 - $165.
 * McKeever Lodge, Pipestem Resort State Park. 113 rooms. Gorge-view rooms, executive suites and jacuzzi rooms available. Indoor heated pool, saunas, outdoor hot tub, exercise room, game room. On-site full-service restaurant and snack bar. $59 - $165.
 * McKeever Lodge, Pipestem Resort State Park. 113 rooms. Gorge-view rooms, executive suites and jacuzzi rooms available. Indoor heated pool, saunas, outdoor hot tub, exercise room, game room. On-site full-service restaurant and snack bar. $59 - $165.
 * McKeever Lodge, Pipestem Resort State Park. 113 rooms. Gorge-view rooms, executive suites and jacuzzi rooms available. Indoor heated pool, saunas, outdoor hot tub, exercise room, game room. On-site full-service restaurant and snack bar. $59 - $165.

Lake Shawnee
A small unincorporated community located along US Route 19, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) northwest of Princeton.

Go next

 * Bluefield is about 10 minutes southwest on US-460.
 * Beckley is about 40 minutes north on I-77.
 * Hinton is about 40 minutes north on WV-20.
 * Mullens is less than an hour north on WV-10
 * Welch is less than an hour west on US-52
 * Blacksburg, Virginia is about 1 hour east on US-460.