After being named America’s Best Community in April 2017, Huntington was recognized as one of “51 Affordable Discoveries Across America 2019” by an article on a travel-related website. 

The article, published by Budget Travel on Dec. 31, 2018, listed “amazing budget destinations in each state, plus Puerto Rico,” according to the website. Huntington was chosen to represent West Virginia on the list. 

“Once a coal town, and before that, the westernmost terminus of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, Huntington sits on the banks of the Ohio River at the tri-state junction of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio,” the Budget Travel article said. 

The article referenced Marshall University and other landmarks that may be familiar to Marshall students and residents.

“Home to Marshall University, with a historic downtown district, a recently revitalized riverfront, and a nationally recognized public park with a rose garden, it’s a community on the up and up,” the Budget Travel article said. 

Tyson Compton, the president of Cabell-Huntington Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he was surprised by the designation. 

“The designation came as a surprise to me overall,” Compton said. “But it didn’t surprise me that they found Huntington to be the number one city in West Virginia to meet their criteria.”

Being nationally recognized as a city to visit could attract more visitors to Huntington, Compton said.

“I think it’s very exciting for Huntington to make this list,” Compton said. “People will pay attention to this, and we’ll see new visitors to our area because of it. Although we promote Huntington across many platforms, it would be difficult to buy this type of advertising.”

The Huntington community has been making efforts aimed to revitalize the area. Through initiatives such as the Open to All campaign, as well as through being named America’s Best Community, Huntington has expanded its reputation beyond West Virginia.

“Huntington has been going through a revitalization over the past few years,” Compton said. “With Pullman Square and the Third and Fourth Avenue business growth, we’ve seen a surge of people coming back downtown. While we are not without our issues, Huntington has been in the national spotlight for the positive way we are dealing with those issues.”

The article “51 Affordable Discoveries Across America 2019” can be viewed at budgettravel.com.

Trey Delida can be contacted at [email protected].