Aurora, West Virginia

Aurora, West Virginia
Census-designated place
Red Horse Tavern
Location in Preston County, West Virginia
Coordinates: 39°19′27″N 79°33′16″W / 39.32417°N 79.55444°W / 39.32417; -79.55444
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Preston
Area [1]
• Total	2.109 sq mi (5.46 km^2)
• Land	2.109 sq mi (5.46 km^2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km^2)
Elevation [2]	2,644 ft (806 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	200
• Density	95/sq mi (37/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID	1556729[2]

Aurora is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Preston County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 200 at the 2020 census.^[3][4] Aurora is located on U.S. Route 50 between Rowlesburg and the Maryland state line. Cathedral State Park is located to the east of Aurora's post office.

History

Aurora was originally a German settlement. The town was originally called Salem and later Mount Carmel. Its current name was suggested because of the town's high altitude. One of the original settlers to the area was John Stough, a Lutheran minister. The primary industries throughout the early and mid-19th century were farming and timber. In the late 1880s, the town became known as a resort area as the result of several large hotels which were built in the area. Some of these featured casinos, pools, and concert halls. In the 1930s an artist colony formed in the nearby Youghiogheny Forest area.

Located near Aurora are the Brookside Historic District, Gaymont and the Red Horse Tavern, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[5][6]

Popular culture

Majority of the film Recovery Boys takes place in Aurora, West Virginia.^{[7][8][9][10]}

References

1. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Aurora, West Virginia
3. "Census Bureau profile: Aurora CDP, West Virginia". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
5. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
6. "National Register of Historic Places Listings" (PDF). Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 5/06/13 through 5/10/13. National Park Service. May 17, 2013.
7. "Documentary "Recovery Boys" reviewed by The LighTHouse Sober Living Alumni Ben M." The Lighthouse. December 2, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
8. "'Recovery Boys' reveals hope in recovery". The Parthenon. July 11, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
9. "'Recovery Boys,' a new Netflix documentary now out, tells the stories of four men early in drug recovery in West Virginia". recoveralaska.org. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
10. "Recovery Boys - Only 1 Recovers - The Coleman Institute". The Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine. Retrieved May 11, 2026.