Claypool, Summers County, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claypool, West Virginia
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 Claypool, Summers County, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Claypool, Summers County, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Summers |
| Elevation | 1,909 ft (582 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1554141 |
Claypool is a small, quiet place in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it doesn't have its own local government, like a mayor or city council. Instead, it's part of the larger county.
Claypool has also been called by other names in the past, like Humoco or Tina. These names were used when it was a busy coal town. A coal town was a community built around a coal mine, where many people lived and worked.
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Where is Claypool Located?
Claypool is found in the beautiful state of West Virginia. It's in the southern part of the state, within Summers County. This area is known for its rolling hills and green forests. Claypool is situated south of another community called Meadow Bridge.
What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community is a place where people live together, but it's not officially a city or town. It doesn't have its own separate local government. Instead, the county government handles services like roads and law enforcement.
- Think of it like a neighborhood that's part of a bigger area.
- Residents still pay taxes, but those taxes go to the county.
- Many small communities in the United States are unincorporated.
Claypool's History as a Coal Town
For a time, Claypool was a bustling coal town. This means its main purpose was to support the nearby coal mining industry. Coal towns were very common in West Virginia during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Life in a Coal Town
Life in a coal town was often centered around the mine. Many families moved to these towns for work.
- Miners worked hard to dig coal from deep underground.
- The company that owned the mine often owned the houses and stores too.
- These towns had their own schools, churches, and community centers.
- When the coal mines closed, many coal towns became much smaller or were even abandoned.
Claypool, known as Humoco or Tina during its coal town days, eventually saw its mining operations slow down. This led to changes in the community over time. Today, it is a quiet unincorporated community.
Summers County, West Virginia
Claypool is part of Summers County. This county was created in 1871 and was named after George W. Summers, a lawyer and politician. The county seat, which is like the main town where the county government is located, is Hinton. Summers County is known for its natural beauty, including rivers and state parks.
