Sutton

History

Sutton was settled in 1792 by Adam O'Brien, from Bath County, Virginia. In 1809, John D. Sutton settled at the confluence of Granny's Creek and the Elk River, at the edge of the present town. The town was established in 1826 as Suttonsville, Sutton was a transportation hub. In addition to the navigable Elk River, the Weston and Gauley Bridge Turnpike connected the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike to the James River and Kanawha Turnpike, via Sutton. A suspension bridge was constructed on the Weston and Gauley Bridge Turnpike across the Elk River at Sutton in 1853. connecting to the West Virginia and Pittsburgh Railroad at Flatwoods, West Virginia via McNutt (near the area now called Laurel Court), a path that would later be used by West Virginia State Route 4. Another branch that ran along the southeastern bank of the Elk River joined the Coal and Coke Railway six miles to the east at Gassaway. Due to its location, Sutton was embroiled in the American Civil War. On September 5, 1861, the town was occupied by 5,000 Union troops. Later in 1861, General William Rosecrans bivouacked 10,000 Union troops there, including future President William McKinley. On December 29, 1861, Confederate soldiers burned most of the downtown. Sutton slowly rebuilt but remained small until the local timber industry boomed. Sutton was incorporated in 1883.

Geography

Sutton is located at (38.664437, -80.710172), along the Elk River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The Sutton Lake project was authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1938. Construction began in October 1949, but was interrupted by the Korean War. Work resumed in 1956 and in the dam was finally completed in 1961. The Dam and lake provide opportunities for boating, picnicking, playgrounds, camping and pavilions available for rent. A handicap-access fishing area was also recently constructed at the Sutton Dam. The geographic center of West Virginia is located just four miles east of Sutton.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  364
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  304
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  281
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  281
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  252
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  236
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  224
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  218

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2025-02-03
  0 km NE of Reno, Ohio
• M 2.61 — 2019-03-04
  13 km E of Meadow Bridge, West Virginia
• M 2.7 — 2017-06-21
  1 km SW of Pratt, West Virginia
• M 2.51 — 2016-12-01
  12 km WSW of Spencer, West Virginia
• M 2.6 — 2014-06-06
  13 km NNE of Sissonville, West Virginia
• M 2.6 — 2013-08-16
  13 km SW of Glenville, West Virginia