Stonega, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stonega, Virginia
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 Stonega, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Stonega, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Wise |
| Founded | July 15, 1895 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.622 sq mi (1.61 km2) |
| • Land | 0.622 sq mi (1.61 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,818 ft (554 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 93 |
| • Density | 149.5/sq mi (57.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
24285
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| GNIS feature ID | 1487603 |
Stonega is a small community in Wise County, Virginia, United States. It is known as a Census-designated place, which means it is a special area defined by the government for counting people. Stonega was also once a coal town, a place built mainly for coal mining.
This community is part of the Big Stone Gap, Virginia micropolitan area. A micropolitan area is like a smaller city area, centered around a town with a population between 10,000 and 50,000 people. Stonega was started in 1895. Its main purpose was to provide homes and special facilities for making coke (a fuel made from coal) for the Virginia Coal and Iron Company. Later, in 1902, another company called Stonega Coke and Coal Company took over. Stonega was run as a company town until after World War II. This means the company owned most of the homes and stores. The town's post office closed in 2002.
Contents
The Story of Stonega: A Coal Town's Past
Stonega has a rich history tied to coal mining in Virginia. It was first founded in 1895 by J.K. Taggart. He named it "Pioneer" because it was the very first commercial coal mine and coke-making plant in Wise County.
How Stonega Got Its Name
In 1896, the town's name was changed from Pioneer to Stonega. This new name came from its location near Stone Gap. Stone Gap is a natural pass through the mountains between Virginia and Kentucky. Sadly, J.K. Taggart passed away in a mining accident that same year.
Who Owned the Town?
The Virginia Coal and Iron Company owned and managed Stonega until 1902. After that, the Stonega Coke and Coal Company took control of the mining operations and rented the land. For many years, there were no big worker strikes in Stonega or the nearby mining camps until 1937.
Building a Coal Community
After a difficult economic time in 1893, the Virginia Coal and Iron Company began building Pioneer, which became Stonega. They started in 1895, right where Callahan Creek begins. They used local wood to build the town. Stonega was built on the flat land along the creek, nestled between Bluff Spur and Nine Mile Spur Mountains. These mountains had narrow, winding areas where they built the coke ovens, railroad tracks, homes, and other buildings needed for this remote community.
By 1896, the new coal mine, or colliery, opened and was renamed Stonega. The company also owned the Interstate Railroad. This railroad connected the mine to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, which was six miles away in Appalachia, Virginia.
