Black Betsy, West Virginia

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Black Betsy
USA West Virginia location map.svg
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Black Betsy
Location within the state of West Virginia
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Black Betsy
Black Betsy (the United States)
Coordinates: 38°29′59″N81°50′8″W / 38.49972°N 81.83556°W / 38.49972; -81.83556
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Putnam
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID1536045 [1]

Black Betsy is an unincorporated community in Putnam County, West Virginia, United States. The town is located on the east bank of the Kanawha River on West Virginia Route 62.

Many legends exist as to the origin of the name Black Betsy. Many claim it was named after a black woman who sold moonshine to miners while others say that "Black Betsy" was the moonshine itself. The coal from the area was supposedly named "Black Betsy" as well. All of these are rumors and each member of the community has a different variation of the story.

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