Sutton was located where several key transportation routes came together. At times, the Elk River could be navigated all the way to Charleston. The Weston to Gauley Bridge Turnpike, which was established in 1848, linked the central Staunton to Parkersburg Turnpike with the Kanawha River Valley and the Kanawha James River Road. In 1853, a wire suspension bridge was built over the Elk River on the Turnpike. Remnants of the stone cable anchors can still be found in Sutton. Felix Sutton served as the county's representative in the Virginia government, based in Wheeling, until the establishment of the state. Because it was situated along an important north-south turnpike in central West Virginia at the start of the Civil War, Sutton became a focal point in the conflict. On September 5, 1861, the town was taken over by 5,000 soldiers. Then, on December 29, 1861, Confederate troops set fire to most of downtown, leaving just six buildings standing.

A major site in the Civil War, Sutton is a must visit stop on the West Virginia Civil War Trail.

Discover the Landmark Studio on the West Virginia Historic Theatre trail!

A unique stop on the WV New Deal Trail, the Sutton Community building is a unique example of CCC architecture.