Sewell, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sewell, West Virginia
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 Sewell, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Sewell, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Fayette |
| Elevation | 1,014 ft (309 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1555591 |
Sewell is a small place in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and buildings that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.
What is Sewell?
Sewell is located right next to the New River. This river is a big part of the area's natural beauty. The community is about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of a town called Fayetteville.
A Busy Past: Coal and Coke
Long ago, Sewell was a very busy place. It was known for making something called "coke." Coke is a special type of fuel made from coal. It's used in factories to make iron and steel.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Sewell had 193 special ovens called "beehive coke ovens." These ovens looked a bit like beehives and were used to turn coal into coke. It was a huge operation!
To help with this work, a railway called the Mann's Creek Railroad was built. This railroad carried coal and coke to and from Sewell. It operated for many years, from 1886 until 1955.
How Sewell Got Its Name
The community of Sewell was named after an early settler. His name was Stephen Sewell. He was one of the first people to live in and explore this area.
