Rachel, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachel, West Virginia
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Census-designated place (CDP)
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Location in Marion County and the state of West Virginia
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Marion |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.346 sq mi (0.90 km2) |
| • Land | 0.342 sq mi (0.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.004 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 958 ft (292 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 248 |
| • Density | 716.8/sq mi (276.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
26587
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| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1555431 |
Rachel is a small community in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. It's a "census-designated place," which means it's a special area the government counts for population. Rachel is found next to Buffalo Creek. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Mannington. Rachel has its own post office with ZIP code 26587. In 2010, about 248 people lived there. You can find Rachel along U.S. 250, between the towns of Farmington and Mannington.
Contents
History of Rachel, West Virginia
How Rachel Got Its Name
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, this area was called Broomfield. Later, in the early 1900s, it was known as Downs. This name came from the Downs Pump Station. The Eureka Pipe Line Company ran this pump station. By the mid-1920s, the area got its current name, Rachel. It was named after the daughter of John H. Jones. He was an important person at the local mine.
Growing with Oil, Gas, and Coal
The town of Rachel grew because it had lots of oil, gas, and coal. The Eureka Pipe Line Company had several large pipelines here. These pipelines carried petroleum. The pump station worked from the early 1900s until the 1940s. It had a huge 12,000-barrel oil tank. It also had large boilers to help move the oil.
Trolleys and Fun at Eureka Park
In 1909, a railway called the Fairmont and Mannington Railway was finished. It had stops in towns like Barrackville, Farmington, and Downs (which is now Rachel). The very first trolley, Car No. 100, arrived at Downs on March 24, 1909. People were very excited!
Riders celebrated at Eureka Park. This was a big park located by Buffalo Creek. It was right across from the mine entrance. The park was a popular place for many activities. People enjoyed picnics, dances, and live shows there. They also had family reunions, concerts, and sports events.
The Rachel Mine Story
A large mine opened in Rachel in 1917. It was started by the Consumers Coal Company. The area was perfect for mining. It had easy access to the B&O Railroad. There was also a streetcar line to Mannington and Fairmont. When the mine first opened, many people thought it was one of the most modern in West Virginia.
In 1921, the mine produced a huge amount of coal: 301,060 tons! In 1923, the company changed its name to Bertha-Consumers Coal Co. They mined coal in Rachel until 1926. Later, from 1936 to 1944, Jones Collieries, Inc. ran the mine. The Rachel Mine also supplied coal to Sharon Steel of Pennsylvania. This coal was used to make coke in Fairmont.
In the 1960s, the Joanne Coal Company operated the mine. It was known as Joanne Mine No. 59. This mine worked three shifts a day. It employed 265 people. In 1969, a company called Eastern Associated Coal Corp. took over the mine.
Life in the Miners' Camp
When the mine opened, the Consumers Coal Company built a camp for its workers. This camp was on a hill above Rachel. It provided homes for the miners and their families. The camp had a clubhouse. This clubhouse had separate areas for English and American workers. It also had a section for workers from other countries. Many of these workers came from Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Russia, and Italy.
The houses in the camp were described as very nice. Each house was separate and had a large yard. The company even plowed the yards for free! This encouraged families to plant gardens. They also provided pasture for one cow. A stable was built on each lot for the cows.
Developing the Community
As more people moved to Rachel, the town grew. A two-story schoolhouse was built near the mine. This school served students until 1925. Then, Downs Elementary School opened. It brought together students from smaller rural schools nearby.
Other businesses also opened. Pollock’s General Store opened on April 2, 1952. Graham’s Garage started in 1917. These places helped the community thrive.
Changes After the Mine Closed
The Rachel mine closed in 1985. After that, many parts of the local community started to disappear. Graham’s Garage closed in the 1980s. Downs Elementary School closed in 1991. Students from there moved to the new Blackshere Elementary School. The local community center also closed in the 1990s. Today, the local post office is one of the last remaining parts of this once busy community.
See also
In Spanish: Rachel (Virginia Occidental) para niños
