[4] West Jefferson is a popular destination among tourists and retirees from Florida, as well as those from the lower elevations of the Carolinas and Georgia.

The railroad was the primary reason for the creation of West Jefferson, as the town became a major stop on the railway.

With the decline of the railroad and the loss of textile factory jobs to foreign markets, West Jefferson's economy is increasingly devoted to the tourism industry.

Attractions include a walkable main street with food, breweries, local art, a cheese factory, a vintage theater, an annual festival, a caboose from a train, and a children's playground.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), all land.

[citation needed] The company does not ship outside its contracted territory, but several websites sell the product at a premium price.

The premium price has been justified by the fact that WJDP is one of the last bottlers in the U.S. to use cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.

It is owned by Jones Media publishing company and is a sister publication of the Watauga Democrat in Boone.