Nitro, WV

united states

Nitro lies along the Kanawha River about 15 miles northwest of Charleston, accessible via I-64 Exit 45. This former company town of 6,800 sits in West Virginia's chemical valley between the river and surrounding hills. Most visitors arrive from Charleston (20 minutes west on I-64) or Huntington (45 minutes east). The city gets its name from a World War I explosives plant, and you can still trace the original company town street grid in the older neighborhoods.