Census: W. Va Oldest State By JENNIFER BUNDY .c The Associated Press THURMOND, W.Va. (AP) - The nearest grocery, library or theater is at least a 35-minute drive from here. The closest gas station is seven miles away. The homes on the hill above town are accessible by a one-lane road with a hairpin turn and no guard rail. ``You have to pull over when someone comes along,'' says Katy Miller, who lives in the once-thriving railroad town. ``Someone comes along for me about every two months. It's a little worse in hunting season.'' Thurmond, population seven, is a statistical anomaly. In a state with the nation's highest median age, 38.9 years, Thurmond has the highest median age of 55.5. That means half the population is younger, half older. Not that the folks here dwell on age. ``About the only time I think of it is when we are weed-whacking or mowing and things, and I think 'Am I still going to be doing this when I'm 80 because there is no one else to do it?''' said Miller, 52, who lives in town with her husband, Joe, 40. Gathered for a recent town photo, residents talked of more pressing things, like the level of the New River after spring storms. ``We're not geriatrics,'' said Jon Dragan, 58. ``Everybody here is extremely active.'' They bike, they hike and all but one resident was drawn here by the New River, a whitewater rafters' favorite. Dragan and his wife, Melanie, 56, moved here in 1966, raised two children and opened the state's first whitewater rafting company. He and his brother, Tom, now operate Dragan Diversified Inc., an international consulting firm that does specialty water work. Thurmond was founded in 1873. It boomed when the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad opened the first rail line through the New River Gorge to mining camps. The river was the dividing line between respectable folk on the northern shores and the gamblers, gunmen and prostitutes who clustered around the former Dunglenn Hotel in the ``Dodge City of the East'' on the southern bank. The hotel burned down in 1930. When diesel engines replaced steam engines, there was no longer a need for Thurmond's freight station and engine house and the population began to wane. The town now is dominated by a restored depot and two railroad tracks, fronted by a strip of long-closed stores. Four years ago, town officials annexed three occupied houses to ensure Thurmond wouldn't lose its charter, making sure there were enough people to justify a mayor, a three-member council and a town recorder. Thurmond's composition has changed since last year's census was taken. Heather and Jon Ignaszewski, both 35, moved in. Melissa Dragan, 24, left for California. Dreama Ashley Robertson, in her mid-50s, is moving. CSX Transportation Co. still owns 30 percent of the town. Private citizens own about 30 percent and the National Park Service owns 40 percent, including the abandoned commercial buildings and the depot, which it opens seasonally as a visitor center. Restoration plans have been scaled back because of reduced federal funds and the loss of historic structures. The Dragans hope to team with the park service and CSX to reopen businesses and operate a tourist train. ``This is probably part of the reason Jon is hoping to hang on to the charter and the town,'' Melanie Dragan said. ``It's a struggle, I think in the long run it will be worth it.'' AP-NY-05-29-01 1250EDT Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.