Exchange, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Exchange
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Exchange
Location in West Virginia
Exchange
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Braxton |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
26619
|
| GNIS feature ID | 1538778 |
Exchange is a small, quiet place in Braxton County, West Virginia, USA. It's what we call an "unincorporated community," which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It's also known as a "ghost town" because most of its main buildings are no longer there. Exchange has a special ZIP code, 26619. Long ago, it was an important stop for trains on the former Coal and Coke Railway.
Contents
What Happened to Exchange?
For a long time, Exchange was a busy spot. But by 2019, even though people still lived in the areas around it, the main street through the town was blocked off.
The Big Fire of 2023
On August 25, 2023, a big fire started in one of the buildings in Exchange. It spread quickly and destroyed many of the main structures and smaller storage buildings. This event changed the town's appearance greatly.
Why is it Called Exchange?
Exchange wasn't always called by its current name. An earlier name for the community was Millburn.
How the Name Changed
The name "Exchange" was suggested because the ownership of the local mill and other businesses in the area often changed hands. People would "exchange" or trade ownership of these places frequently, leading to the name we know today.
-
Exchange in the early 1900s.
-
Arnold Lane, the main street through Exchange.
