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Coal camps in Raleigh County, West Virginia facts for kids

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Coal mining communities, often called coal towns, were special places built around coal mines. In Raleigh County, West Virginia, many of these towns were created to dig up the rich coal found there.

These towns were often built in deep valleys or ravines. This was smart because it made it easy to get the coal out. Miners could dig into the hillsides, and the coal could then be dropped or moved downhill to train tracks at the bottom of the valley. This made it simple to transport the coal away.

Many of these towns were set up quickly by mining companies. When the coal mines closed down, the towns often disappeared too, as people moved away to find new jobs.

Raleigh County is special because it has parts of three important coal mining areas: the New River Coalfield, the Winding Gulf Coalfield, and the Coal River Coalfield.

What is a Coal Town?

A coal town was a community built specifically for coal miners and their families. Mining companies often owned everything in these towns. This included the houses, the stores, and even the schools.

Miners would work long hours in the mines. Their families lived in the houses provided by the company. The company store was usually the main place to buy food and supplies. Sometimes, miners were paid in "scrip," which could only be used at the company store.

When a mine ran out of coal, or if the demand for coal dropped, the mine would close. This meant the jobs disappeared. Without work, people had to leave, and the coal town would become empty, sometimes turning into a ghost town.

Coalfields of Raleigh County

Raleigh County was a very important area for coal mining. It sits on top of large amounts of coal, which is why so many coal towns were built here. The county is part of three major coalfields, each with its own history and towns.

New River Coalfield

The New River Coalfield was one of the first big coal mining areas in West Virginia. It was known for its high-quality coal. Many towns in this area grew quickly as mining expanded.

Here are some of the coal towns that were part of the New River Coalfield in Raleigh County:

Winding Gulf Coalfield

The Winding Gulf Coalfield was another very active coal mining region. It was known for its "smokeless coal," which burned very cleanly. This made it popular for use in steel mills and for heating homes. Many towns here were also built by mining companies.

Here are some of the coal towns that were part of the Winding Gulf Coalfield in Raleigh County:

Coal River Coalfield

The Coal River Coalfield is another important area for coal mining in West Virginia. It is named after the Coal River, which flows through the region. Towns in this coalfield also played a key role in the state's coal history.

Here are some of the coal towns that were part of the Coal River Coalfield in Raleigh County:

You can find more listings of coal towns here.

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