Minden, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Minden, West Virginia
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Census-designated place (CDP)
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 Minden, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Minden, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Fayette |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.494 sq mi (1.28 km2) |
| • Land | 0.494 sq mi (1.28 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,568 ft (478 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 250 |
| • Density | 506/sq mi (195/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
25879
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| Area code(s) | 304 |
Minden is a small community in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it is a special area defined by the government for counting people.
In 2010, about 250 people lived in Minden. The town has had its own post office since 1905. Minden was named after a city in Germany, which was the hometown of a local coal-mining official. The Arbuckle Creek flows through the Minden area.
Contents
History of Minden
Environmental Concerns and Cleanups
In 1984, some chemicals called PCBs were found at the old Shaffer Mine near Minden. These chemicals can be harmful to people and the environment. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the problem.
The EPA found very high levels of PCBs in the soil. Because of this, the area was declared a Superfund Site. This is a place where hazardous waste has been found and needs to be cleaned up. There were two major cleanups, one in the 1980s and another in 1992.
Joining Oak Hill
In 2015, Minden became part of the nearby city of Oak Hill. This happened so that Minden could get help with its water and sewage system. The local water service, called the Arbuckle Public Service District, was having problems. It was letting sewage flow into Arbuckle Creek.
After a long legal fight, the highest court in West Virginia agreed with the decision in 2016. This meant Minden officially joined Oak Hill.
Recent Health Investigations
In June 2017, the EPA started checking the soil in Minden again. This was because many people in the community had been diagnosed with serious health issues. More than 30% of residents had reported health concerns. About 100 people who lived or used to live in Minden said that family members had also faced similar health problems. The EPA is still working to understand the situation.
See also
In Spanish: Minden (Virginia Occidental) para niños
