Stotesbury, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stotesbury
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 Stotesbury
Location in West Virginia
Stotesbury
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Raleigh |
| Elevation | 1,841 ft (561 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
25929
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| GNIS feature ID | 1555722 |
Stotesbury is a small place in Raleigh County, West Virginia, in the United States. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Stotesbury was once a busy coal town, a place where most people worked in coal mines. It was especially active in the 1930s.
The community got its name from Edward T. Stotesbury. He was the president of the Beaver Coal Company, which was important for the town's mining history. A famous person, Robert C. Byrd, who was a U.S. Senator for many years, used to live in Stotesbury. A U.S. Senator is someone who helps make laws for the whole country. Today, only a few houses are left from what was once a lively town.
Mining in Stotesbury
Stotesbury was a key part of the Winding Gulf Coalfield. This area was very important for coal mining. The first company to operate the mines here was the E.E. White Coal Co. They mined coal from a specific layer called the Beckley seam.
Over the years, different companies took over the mining operations. In the late 1930s, the Koppers Coal Company started mining here. They continued until 1958. Later, in the mid-1960s, Eastern Associated Coal rebuilt the mine and worked there until the mid-1980s. The mine was briefly reopened in 2001 by White Mountain LLC but closed again in 2002.
Important Buildings
Like many communities, Stotesbury had churches that were central to its life. St. John's Baptist Church was one of these important places. Sadly, this church has fallen into ruin over time. By 2013, only its foundation stones remained. Because of its history, St. John's Baptist Church was listed as an "Endangered Building" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Even though some buildings are gone, the Stotesbury Community Church is still active today. Also, some of the original houses where people lived when Stotesbury was a busy coal town are still standing. The owners of the land in the Stotesbury Coal Camp were still connected to the Beaver Coal Company in 2006.
Images for kids
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Stotesbury postmark
