Elbert, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elbert
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 Elbert
Location in West Virginia
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | McDowell |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1554378 |
Elbert is a small, historic community located in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. It is known as an "unincorporated community." This means it doesn't have its own local government, like a city or town. Instead, the county manages it.
Elbert was first established as a coal town. This means it was built mainly to support coal mining operations. Many people lived and worked there because of the coal industry. In 1971, Elbert became part of the City of Gary. This happened after its local post office closed down.
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 mayor or city council. Instead, the larger county government handles services like roads and police.
How Coal Towns Started
Coal towns like Elbert were very common in places with lots of coal. Companies often built these towns for their workers. They provided homes, stores, and sometimes even schools. Life in a coal town was often centered around the mines.
Elbert's History and Change
Elbert was once an independent community. It had its own identity and services. But as times changed, many smaller coal towns faced challenges. When Elbert's post office closed, it was a sign of these changes. Joining the City of Gary helped the community continue to receive services.
