Mabie, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mabie, West Virginia
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 Mabie, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Mabie, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Randolph |
| Elevation | 2,251 ft (686 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
26278
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| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1555016 |
Mabie is a small, quiet place in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Mabie is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of a place called Womelsdorf (Coalton). It even has its own post office with the ZIP code 26278.
This community was first known as Roaring Creek, named after a stream nearby. But in 1897, a man named W. H. Mabie built a sawmill here. Because of his sawmill, the community's name was later changed to Mabie.
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Exploring Mabie's Past
Mabie has a rich history, especially tied to the natural resources of West Virginia.
Early Settlers and Resources
The very first settlers came to this area in 1786. Their main goal was to clear the land so they could start farming. Later, more people moved to Mabie because of the huge amounts of timber (wood) and minerals found there.
At one time, Mabie was surrounded by old growth forests. These were ancient forests with trees so big that some were six or seven feet across! Imagine how tall they must have been.
Coal and Transportation
Besides the giant trees, a thick layer of coal was discovered in 1876. This coal seam was an amazing twelve feet thick! Coal was a very important resource for energy and industry back then.
The original Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike road cuts right through the community of Mabie. This old road was very important for travel and trade. It crosses a place called Rich Mountain nearby.
Civil War Battle Nearby
Mabie is also close to a historic Civil War site. The Battle of Rich Mountain was fought nearby on July 11, 1861. This battle was an important event during the early days of the American Civil War.
