McDowell County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,113. Its county seat is Welch. McDowell County is the southernmost county in the state. It was created in 1858 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for Virginia Governor James McDowell. It became a part of West Virginia in 1863, when several counties seceded from the state of Virginia during the American Civil War.
Gary is a city located along the Tug Fork River in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. According to the 2010 census, the city had a population of 968. It was named for Elbert Henry Gary, one of the founders of U.S. Steel. The former coal towns of Elbert, Filbert, Thorpe, and Wilcoe became part of Gary at the time of its incorporation in 1971.
Coalwood is an unincorporated community coal town in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. The coal mine in Coalwood reached its peak in the 1960s and finally shut down production on October 1, 1982. As of the 1990 census—the last time the town was counted separately—the population was 900. The town is the setting of the best-selling memoir October Sky by Homer Hickam and the movie based on the book.
Big Four is an unincorporated community located in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Their post office has been closed. Originally known as Cirrus, Big Four is reported to have been renamed for the four men who operated the coal mines in the area.
Cucumber is a census-designated place (CDP) in McDowell County, West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, its population was 94. It is centered on mining. Named either for nearby Cucumber Creek or for the cucumber trees in the area, it is the only community in the United States with this name. Its post office was still active as of October 2011.
Algoma is an unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Algoma is located adjacent to the town of Northfork. Its post office was established in 1891 and discontinued in 1988. Algoma most likely was derived from the Algonquin language.
The Battle of Blair Mountain was the largest labor uprising in United States history and the largest armed uprising since the American Civil War. The conflict occurred in Logan County, West Virginia, as part of the Coal Wars, a series of early-20th-century labor disputes in Appalachia. Up to 100 people were killed, and many more arrested. The United Mine Workers saw major declines in membership, but the long-term publicity led to some improvements in working conditions.
Pageton is a census-designated place (CDP) in McDowell County, West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, its population was 187. Pageton is located on the Tug Fork Branch of the Norfolk and Western Railway, along the Pocahontas seam of rich bituminous coal. Pageton is located on State Route 161 between Thorpe and Anawalt.
Jenkinjones is an unincorporated community and coal town in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. It lies on the western flanks of Stone Ridge near the border with Tazewell County, Virginia.
Pocahontas Coalfield, which is also known as the Flat Top-Pocahontas Coalfield, is located in Mercer County/McDowell County, West Virginia and Tazewell County, Virginia. The earliest mining of coal in the coalfield was in Pocahontas, Virginia in 1883 at Pocahontas Mine No. 1, now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Landgraff is an unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia. It is located along U.S. Route 52 and Elkhorn Creek approximately 6.4 miles (10.3 km) east of the county seat of Welch.
Itmann is a census-designated place (CDP) and former mining town located in Wyoming County, West Virginia, United States, between Pineville and Mullens off of West Virginia Route 16. As of the 2010 census, its population was 293; it had 138 homes, 119 of which were occupied.
The Matewan Historic District encompasses the town center of the rural coal mining community of Matewan, West Virginia. Matewan was the scene of the Battle of Matewan on May 19, 1920, during a coal miners' strike, an event which led to the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest insurrection ever associated with the labor movement in the United States, and was depicted in the film Matewan. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997.
Maybeury is a census-designated place (CDP) in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States, located on US Route 52 between Northfork and Bramwell. As of the 2010 census, its population was 234.
Kay Moor, also known as Kaymoor, is the site of an abandoned coal mine, coal-processing plant, and coal town near Fayetteville, West Virginia. The town site is located in the New River Gorge at Kaymoor Bottom (38°03′00″N81°03′17″W). It is linked to the mine portal 560 feet (170 m) above on Sewell Bench (38°02′52″N81°03′58″W) in the wall of the Gorge by conveyors.
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in McDowell County, West Virginia.
Carter Coal Company Store, also known as Consolidation Coal Company Store, is a historic company store building located at Caretta, McDowell County, West Virginia. It was built about 1912 by the Carter Coal Company, and is a one-story brick commercial building on a stone foundation. It has a gable roof. The building was originally "T"-shaped, but wood frame additions built in 1922, spread the plan to an "L.". It ceased operating as a post office in August 2005.
The Carter Coal Company Store was a historic company store building located at Coalwood, McDowell County, West Virginia. It was built by the Carter Coal Company about 1912, and remodeled in 1922. The one-story brick building housed a store, company offices, and a post office.
Vivian is a census-designated place (CDP) in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Vivian is located along U.S. Route 52 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of Kimball. As of the 2010 census, its population was 82.
The coal mining communities, or coal towns of McDowell County, West Virginia were situated to exploit the area's rich coal seams. Many of these towns were located in deep ravines that afforded direct access to the coal through the hillsides, allowing mined coal to be dropped or conveyed downhill to railway lines at the valley floor. Many of these encampments were set up as company towns, and when their mines closed, the towns vanished. McDowell County covers much of the Flat Top-Pocahontas Coalfield and a small portion of the Williamson Coalfield.
