Lignite, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lignite
|
|
|---|---|
 Lignite
Location in Virginia
Lignite
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Botetourt |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Lignite is what we call a ghost town in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now almost no one does. Lignite was once a busy mining town. It was named after "lignite," which is a type of soft coal found there.
Contents
What Was Lignite?
Lignite was not just a collection of houses. It was a special kind of town called a "company town." This means that one company, the Allegheny Ore and Iron Company, owned almost everything there. They owned the houses, the stores, and even the land.
Life in a Company Town
In Lignite, the company provided many important things for the people who lived there. It had a "company store" where people could buy food and supplies. There were also churches for worship and a school for children to learn. The town even had its own post office and a main street theater for entertainment.
This setup meant that the company had a lot of control over the lives of its workers. They often paid workers in "company scrip," which could only be used at the company store.
Mining for Lignite
The main reason Lignite existed was for mining. Workers dug up lignite, a type of brown coal. This coal was used for fuel and other industrial purposes. The Allegheny Ore and Iron Company was in charge of these mining operations. Later, in 1907, this company became part of a bigger company called Lukens Steel Company.
Why Lignite Became a Ghost Town
Lignite was a busy place for many years, but its success depended on the demand for lignite coal.
Changes in Demand
In the 1920s, the need for lignite coal started to drop. This happened because better quality coal was discovered in places like Pennsylvania. This new coal was "higher grade," meaning it was more efficient and valuable. Because of this, companies didn't need as much lignite from Virginia anymore.
The Town's Abandonment
When the demand for lignite coal went down, the Allegheny Ore and Iron Company decided to stop its operations in Lignite. They abandoned the town in the 1920s. Most people had to leave to find work elsewhere.
Even though the company left, some people continued to live in the houses until the 1950s. Over time, however, almost everyone moved away.
Lignite Today
Today, very little remains of the original town of Lignite. Most of the buildings have disappeared or fallen apart. Nature has started to reclaim the area.
The land where Lignite once stood is now part of the Jefferson National Forest. This means it's a protected area of natural beauty. If you visit, you might only find a few scattered remains, like old foundations or chimneys, covered by trees and plants. It's a quiet reminder of a once-busy mining community.
