Richwood has a very rich history, including the formation of the Cherry River Navy civic organization to draw attention to issues important to the community.

[5] Each year, in April, the city hosts a large festival that draws visitors from around the country.

[6] During the 19th century, the area was a sparsely settled semi-wilderness of homesteads and subsistence farms.

Campbell, and Lee Reese to promote the construction of a since-built missing link in West Virginia Route 39 between Richwood and Marlinton.

[11][12][13] In 2021 former Richwood mayor Bob Henry Baber was sentenced to 1–10 years in jail and to pay restitution for defrauding the city after the major flood in 2016.

[16] The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.

Richwood, however, is still by default the political and economic center of eastern Nicholas County, as it is the only incorporated city in the immediate area.

There have been efforts to attract visitors to the area for the natural environment of the adjacent Monongahela National Forest.

The mayor welcomed attendees of the 2005 Rainbow Gathering that was held in the forest and took the opportunity to encourage craftspeople to buy property and set up businesses there.

Richwood has a mountain setting with close proximity to Monongahela National Forest and access to a great number of recreational areas.

Richwood is also home to Cherry Hill Country Club, a nine-hole golf course located on top of Hinkle Mountain.

The Nicholas County Board of Education plans on renovating the Cherry River Elementary site to house all three of Richwood's schools.

It operates a rural health clinic with a full staff including MD, FNP, and RN access.

Summersville Regional Medical Center, located in the county seat, offers the nearest emergency room and hospital.

They serve the community from their central station located in the middle of town, and provide fire and rescue services to Richwood and surrounding areas.

Richwood's primary road is a two-lane highway carrying West Virginia Routes 39 and 55.

The original construction of the road portion from Marlinton to Richwood through the Monongahela National Forest was spured by the Cherry River Navy civic organization, reducing what was a three-hour drive on indirect alternate routes to a current 45-minute drive.

[10] It is considered one of the most scenic drives in West Virginia,[26] providing access to a number of National Forest recreation sites.

[27] In the town's early years, the railroad was a popular form of transporting wood, coal, and passengers in and out of Richwood on a daily basis.

The tracks were removed by the end of the decade and the old railroad grade was transformed into a gravel rail-trail for hiking and bicycling.