Montcalm, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Montcalm, West Virginia
|
|
|---|---|
|
Census-designated place (CDP)
|
|
Location in Mercer County and the state of West Virginia.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Mercer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.7 sq mi (7.1 km2) |
| • Land | 2.7 sq mi (7.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,274 ft (693 m) |
| Population
(2010)
|
|
| • Total | 726 |
| • Density | 269/sq mi (102.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
24737
|
| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-55372 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2389496 |
Montcalm is a small community in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area identified by the government for statistics, but it's not a formally organized town or city. In 2010, about 726 people lived there. Montcalm is part of the larger Bluefield area, which has over 100,000 residents. People who live in Montcalm are sometimes called Montcalmers!
Contents
History of Montcalm
Early Settlers and Farms
The first records of European families living in the Montcalm area date back to 1840. At that time, it was part of Virginia. A man named George Bailey owned a large farm of 700 acres. His farm was located where Crane Creek meets the Bluestone River.
The Bailey family lived on this farm until 1852. They decided to move west and sold their farm for $1,500. The new owner was Robert Williams, a retired sailor from the British Navy.
Robert Williams' Story
Robert Williams wrote a book about his time in Mercer County. It was called With the Border Ruffians and was published in 1908. This book is the earliest story we have about life in Montcalm's Bluestone Valley.
In his book, Williams wrote about meeting important people in the early communities. He also described court days, church meetings, and hunting in the hills. He even wrote about community dances and some dangerous situations he faced.
After some disagreements, Williams sold the farm for $2,000 to the Herndon family. This family owned a nearby farm. Some of their family members still lived in Montcalm a century later.
How Montcalm Got Its Name
Local stories say that the town, which grew around the old Bailey Farm, was first called "Riverside." As more people came to work in the local coal mines and on the railway lines, the community grew. Around 1910, people decided to open a post office there.
However, they found out that another town in West Virginia already had a post office named Riverside. So, they needed a new name! The story goes that a group of local schoolchildren helped choose the name "Montcalm." They had just finished learning about the French and Indian War. In that war, Louis-Joseph de Montcalm was a French commander. The children liked his name, and so the town became Montcalm.
Major Flood Event
In 1924, a huge rainstorm caused a terrible event. A mountainside along Crane Creek collapsed, leading to a flash flood. This flood covered Montcalm and a nearby town called McComas. A pile of mining waste exploded because of the storm. This caused a mudslide that buried the train tracks under fifteen feet of mud. Eight people sadly lost their lives in what was called the Catastrophe of Crane Creek.
Schools in Montcalm
The first formal school in the Montcalm area was the Mullins School. It was built on Browning Lambert Mountain sometime in the 1800s.
Montcalm High School started as a junior high school in 1931. It became a senior high school in the 1950s. A new Montcalm High School building was finished in 1983.
Notable People from Montcalm
- Hazel Dickens: She was a famous American bluegrass singer, songwriter, and musician. She played the double bass and guitar. Hazel Dickens is a member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
- Howard Wellman: He was a politician in West Virginia and graduated from Montcalm High School.
Geography and Environment
Montcalm is located along the Bluestone River. The Bluestone River has faced some environmental challenges. It has been found to have certain types of pollution, including high levels of bacteria.
The community of Montcalm covers an area of about 2.7 square miles (7.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Climate in Montcalm
Montcalm has a climate where the temperatures don't change too much between hot and cold. It also gets enough rain throughout the year. This type of weather is known as a marine west coast climate.
