Coalwood, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coalwood, West Virginia
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 Coalwood, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| County | McDowell |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Elevation | 1,450 ft (442 m) |
| Population
(1990)
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| • Total | 900 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
24824
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| Area code(s) | 304 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1554166 |
Coalwood is a small, unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia, in the United States. It was once a busy town built around a coal mine. The mine was most active in the 1950s but stopped producing coal on October 1, 1986. In 1990, about 900 people lived there. Coalwood became famous because it's the setting for Homer Hickam's popular 1998 book, Rocket Boys, and the 1999 movie based on it, October Sky.
Contents
History of Coalwood
Coalwood was founded in 1905 by a man named George Lafayette Carter. He explored the area and found rich amounts of coal. He then bought 20,000 acres (about 80 square kilometers) of land.
Building the Town
Carter built a mine, which he called the Carter Coal Company. He also built offices, houses, a school, a company store, and a church for the miners and their families. He even hired a dentist and a doctor to provide healthcare services.
Changes in Ownership
In 1922, Carter sold the mine and the town's properties to the Consolidation Coal Company. This company improved the community and hired new workers. However, Carter got the company back in 1933 when Consolidation Coal couldn't make its payments.
George Carter passed away in 1936. His son, James, took over the company. In 1947, James sold it to a group of business people who renamed it the Olga Coal Company.
Mine Operations and Closure
In 1956, the Coalwood mine was connected underground to the nearby Caretta mine, which Olga also owned. By 1959, Olga stopped bringing coal to the surface through Coalwood. This led the Norfolk and Western Railway to remove the train tracks that went to and from Coalwood.
The Coalwood-Caretta mine continued to produce a lot of coal throughout most of the 20th century. It produced about one million tons each year until it finally closed. At its busiest time, Coalwood had more than 2,000 residents.
In 1980, the Olga Coal Company was bought by the LTV Corporation. LTV closed Coalwood's mine in 1986.
Coalwood Today
As of 2019, many parts of Coalwood are empty. This includes the old Big Creek High School. The town's buildings are still standing, but they show signs of age and weather damage. A new primary school has been built where Big Creek High School used to be.
October Sky Festival
For many years, Coalwood hosted an October Sky festival every October. This festival celebrated the achievements of the Rocket Boys, a group of local teens who built rockets. Many scientists and astronauts attended the festival, and Homer Hickam (one of the original Rocket Boys) always came.
Festival Highlights
The 2007 festival also marked 50 years since Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. To celebrate both events, Scott Miles, an actor from the October Sky movie, attended to sign autographs.
Moving the Festival
On February 7, 2012, the Cape Coalwood Restoration Association announced that the October 2011 festival was the last one in Coalwood. After this news, a group from Raleigh County asked Homer Hickam if the festival could move to their city.
After discussions, it was decided that the 2012 Rocket Boys/October Sky Festival would be held in Beckley. Many events took place at the Exhibition Coal Mine at New River Park from October 5–7. The Rocket Boys Festival continued as an annual event in Beckley from 2012 to 2019. The 2020 festival was canceled due to COVID-19.
Images for kids
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A postmark from Coalwood, West Virginia
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The Carter Coal Company Store in 2007
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Flood damage in Coalwood in 2002
See also
In Spanish: Coalwood (Virginia Occidental) para niños
