Whitman, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitman, West Virginia
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 Whitman, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Whitman, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Logan |
| Elevation | 787 ft (240 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,250 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
25652
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| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1555977 |
Whitman is a small place in Logan County, West Virginia, United States. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Whitman is about 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Logan. It has its own post office with the ZIP code 25652.
Contents
Exploring Whitman Creek and Its Roads
Whitman is located along Whitman Creek. This creek's water flows from an area about 10.6 square miles big. Whitman Creek Road is a main road that stretches for 5.5 miles. It goes from the start of the hollow (a small valley) to its end.
Side Roads and Travel
There are a couple of important side roads branching off Whitman Creek Road. One is Bradshaw Hollow Road, which is about 1.4 miles long. The other is Pine Gap Branch. This road connects to other main roads. However, sometimes you might not be able to travel on it because of a coal company working nearby.
Whitman's Coal Mining History
Whitman has a rich history tied to coal mining. Early maps from 1910 show the area. A lot of the land in Whitman was once owned by a person named Mr. Baisden. He had two sons, Hardy and Farley Baisden. Later, two coal camps in Whitman Creek were named after them.
Island Creek Coal Company
By 1915, the United States Coal and Oil Company owned the Whitman Creek area. This company was later bought by the Island Creek Coal Company. This company played a huge role in Whitman's development.
Mining Operations and Legacy
The Island Creek Coal Company had mines, railroads, and coal camps that stretched for 5 miles up Whitman Creek. They started three coal mines between 1916 and 1922. These mines were called Island Creek No. 3, No. 14, and No. 20. Today, you won't see any of these old mining operations. The mines are sealed, and all the buildings and equipment have been removed. The site of Mine No. 3 is now used for making asphalt, and the No. 20 site is where a machine shop is located.
Life in the Coal Camps
Today, there are 589 households in Whitman. In the past, the Island Creek Coal Company built 12 coal camps along Whitman Creek. These camps were groups of houses for the miners and their families. They were built about every half-mile as mining expanded.
Structure of Coal Camps
Many coal camps were divided into smaller areas called subdivisions. These subdivisions then had smaller sections called parcels or lots. A subdivision usually had between 25 and 50 houses.
Named Coal Camps
The identified coal camps were:
- Baisden Hill Camp
- Walnut Hill Camp
- Hardy Camp
- Farley Camp
- Coalwood Camp
- Kirby Camp
- Hamill Camp
- Bradshaw Camp
- Madison Camp
- Rothwell Camp
- Hosmer Camp
- Huntville Camp
Boarding Houses and Homes
Boarding houses were also built in Whitman Creek to house miners. In 2021, four of these old two-story houses were still standing. They had outside stairs leading to the top porch, and each room had its own door to the porch. Miners would rent these rooms. Now, all these houses are privately owned and used as single-family homes. After the mines closed, many new homes were built, filling in the spaces between the old coal camps.
Remaining Structures
Another reminder of the coal mining past is an old stone building. It's located about 1.8 miles up Whitman Creek Road. This building was once a power station, water house, and a place to store explosives. It was still standing in 2021.
