There is a small town in southern region of the U.S. state of Virginia called Pamplin City. The origin of the town and how the town got its name is unknown. It is known that a man named Thomas Merriman bought property in the region in the early part of the nineteenth century where he built a home and a shoe shop. There was also a man named Nicholas Calvin Pamplin who bought property in the region in the mid-1840’s.

In the 1850’s, a representation of the Norfolk and Western Railway approached both of them about acquiring property for the railroad. Nicholas Pamplin saw the benefit that the railroad would bring to the region, and he donated land to the railroad. For this reason, the town is named for him.

The Norfolk and Western Railway came to town, and the town grew. The main street was lined with stores, hotels…