Homes for Rent in Princeton, WV

The common theme in Princeton is growth. With just under 6,000 people, it's similar to other southern West Virginia communities — with a low cost of living, abundant outdoor recreation opportunities and a long drive to major cities. Like much of the region, Princeton also suffered economically when the railroad industry dried up. But in recent years, a wave of revitalization has brought a vibrant arts scene to the once-empty downtown and encouraged a growing health-care industry at Princeton Community Hospital. "We're seeing growth — not only in the arts, not only in the health-care system, not only in the parks and recreation — it's all of it cumulatively," says City Manager Mike Webb. "Princeton is turning into a place where you don't have to go elsewhere to find what you need." Lori McKinney, co-founder of The RiffRaff Arts Collective, agrees. "When I'm downtown, I feel like I could be in any major city, but it's all located in the middle of this small-town life," she says. "We are kind of like an oasis where people from any walk of life can find a place to fit in." Parts of Princeton's hilly streets feel like suburbia, with green lawns and sidewalk-lined streets. In other