Thorpe, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thorpe
|
|
|---|---|
 Thorpe
Location in West Virginia
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | McDowell |
| Elevation | 1,437 ft (438 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
24888
|
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1555807 |
Thorpe is a small place in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. It used to be a busy coal town where many people lived and worked. Today, Thorpe is part of the nearby community of Gary, West Virginia. Even though it's part of Gary, Thorpe still has its own post office.
Contents
Life in a Coal Town: Thorpe's History
Thorpe was once a thriving community built around the coal mining industry. In the early to mid-1900s, coal was a very important resource. Towns like Thorpe grew quickly because of the demand for coal.
What is a Coal Town?
A coal town is a community that was created and grew mainly because of a nearby coal mine. Most of the people living there worked in the mines or in jobs that supported the mining operations. These towns often had houses, stores, and schools all built by the mining company.
Thorpe's Independence and Change
For many years, Thorpe was an independent community. This means it had its own local government or was recognized as a separate place. However, things changed over time. As the coal industry changed, many smaller towns were combined with larger ones. In 1971, Thorpe officially became part of Gary, West Virginia.
People of Thorpe: Past Populations
Like many coal towns, Thorpe's population changed a lot over the years. When the mines were busy, many families lived there. As mining slowed down, some people moved away to find other jobs.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 1,362 | — | |
| 1960 | 1,102 | −19.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Trends in Thorpe
The numbers above show how many people lived in Thorpe during certain years. In 1950, over 1,300 people called Thorpe home. Ten years later, in 1960, the population had decreased to just over 1,100 people. This kind of change was common for many coal towns in the region.
Thorpe Today: A Part of Gary
Even though Thorpe is no longer an independent town, its history as a coal community is still an important part of West Virginia's story. The area continues to be a quiet place in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.
