Gamoca, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gamoca, West Virginia
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Country | United States |
State | West Virginia |
County | Fayette |
Elevation | 686 ft (209 m) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
GNIS ID | 1549695 |
Gamoca is a small, quiet place in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. It is known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a settlement that isn't officially part of a city or town government. Gamoca was also once a "coal town," a community built around the business of mining coal.
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Gamoca: A Small Community
Gamoca is located in the beautiful state of West Virginia. It sits in Fayette County, an area known for its natural beauty and history. As an unincorporated community, Gamoca doesn't have its own local government like a city would. Instead, it's managed by the county.
What is an Unincorporated Community?
Imagine a neighborhood that isn't part of a big city. That's kind of like an unincorporated community. People live there, but they don't have their own mayor or city council. Services like roads and schools are usually handled by the larger county government.
How Gamoca Got Its Name
The name "Gamoca" is quite unique! It was created by combining parts of three different family names: Gauley, Moley, and Campbell. These families likely played an important role in the community's early days.
Gamoca's Coal Town Past
Gamoca used to be a "coal town." In the past, many communities in West Virginia grew up around coal mines. People moved to these towns to work in the mines, and the towns provided homes, stores, and services for the miners and their families. Coal towns were very important to the economy of West Virginia for a long time.