Wharton, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wharton
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Post office
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 Wharton
Location in West Virginia
Wharton
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Boone |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Wharton is a small place in Boone 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. Instead, it's managed by the county. Wharton is also known as a coal town, because coal mining was very important to its history and economy.
This community is located along the Pond Fork River and can be found by following West Virginia Route 85. Wharton got its name from Joseph Wharton, who was a big landowner from a city called Philadelphia.
About Wharton's History
Wharton's story is closely tied to the coal industry. Many communities in West Virginia grew because of coal mining. These towns provided homes for miners and their families. They also had stores and other services needed by the mining community.
Safety in Mines
Mining can be a dangerous job, and safety is always very important. On February 1, 2006, there was an incident at a coal mine in Wharton. A wall support came loose, and unfortunately, a miner was seriously hurt.
Because of this and another similar event nearby, the Governor of West Virginia at the time, Joe Manchin, took action. He asked all mines in West Virginia to stop work for a short time. This was so they could focus on improving safety for everyone working underground. This event helped highlight the importance of strict safety rules in mines.
