Tygart Junction, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tygart Junction
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Ghost town
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 Tygart Junction
Location in West Virginia
Tygart Junction
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| County |  Barbour |
| Elevation | 1,335 ft (407 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS ID | 1555846 |
Tygart Junction was a small, undeveloped area in Barbour County, West Virginia, West Virginia, USA. It was abandoned over 100 years ago. This makes it a type of ghost town. The community was located where two important things met: a railroad crossing and two rivers joining together.
Contents
What Was Tygart Junction?
Tygart Junction was not a big city. It was an unincorporated community. This means it did not have its own local government. It was just a small group of homes or buildings. People lived and worked there for a time.
A Ghost Town Story
A ghost town is a place that used to have people living there. But now, it is mostly empty or completely abandoned. Tygart Junction became a ghost town more than a century ago. This means people stopped living there around the early 1900s.
Why Do Towns Become Ghost Towns?
Towns often become ghost towns for different reasons.
- Sometimes, the main industry leaves.
- Natural resources, like coal or gold, might run out.
- New roads or railways might bypass the town.
- Natural disasters can also make people leave.
For Tygart Junction, its connection to the railroad was very important.
The Importance of Its Location
Tygart Junction's name tells us a lot about its location. "Junction" means a place where things meet. For this community, two key things met there: rivers and railroads.
Where Rivers Meet: A Confluence
Tygart Junction was at the confluence of two rivers. A confluence is where two or more rivers or streams flow together. Here, the Buckhannon River met the Tygart Valley River.
- Rivers were like old highways.
- They were used for travel and moving goods.
- Meeting points were often good places for towns.
Where Railroads Met: A B&O Junction
The community was also the site of a B&O railroad junction. The B&O Railroad was one of the oldest and most important railroads in the United States.
- A railroad junction is where two or more railway lines connect.
- These spots were very important for transportation.
- Trains could switch tracks and go in different directions.
- This made junctions busy places for trade and travel.
How Railroads Shaped Towns
In the past, railroads were vital for growth. Towns often grew up around train stations and junctions. They helped move goods like timber, coal, or farm products. They also helped people travel. If a railroad line changed or closed, towns that depended on it could disappear. This might have been a reason for Tygart Junction becoming a ghost town.
Tygart Junction Today
Today, Tygart Junction is no longer an active community. Its story is a reminder of how transportation and natural resources shaped early American towns. It shows how places can change over time.
