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Gassaway
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Dundon
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Ansted
Gauley Bridge
Glen Jean
Mt. Hope
Thurmond |
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Alum Creek
Branchland
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Logan
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Davy
Iaeger
Kimball
Roderick
Twin Branch
War
Welch
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Historic Matewan
Williamson
Dingess
Red Jacket
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Itmann
Mullens
Oceana
Sabine
Wyco
Wyoming
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HISTORY
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| There are eleven coal company stores in McDowell County listed on the National Register of Historic Places (see list below) and numerous communities exist today because of both coal and railroad. A few of these communities include Welch, Davy, Iaeger, Kimball, Twin Branch and War. Cape Coalwood, the coal town in which the book "October Sky" was based, it also located in McDowell County. |
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| WELCH |
| One can truly say the railroad made the town of Welch. Prior to the arrival of the Norfolk & Western Railway to the area in 1891, Welch was practically wild lands.
The arrival of the railroad gave the town a steady growth and was the determining factor in the county seat of McDowell County moving from Peeryville (now English, WV) to Welch in the 1890s. The courthouse was built in Welch in 1894 and an annex added in 1910. In 1899, the West Virginia Legislature passed an act providing for the establishment of three Miners' Hospitals, which included one, Miner's Hospital No. 1, which was established in Welch, WV, which began providing patient services in January 1901.
The McDowell County Courthouse and downtown commercial area including the Welch Hotel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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| There is no formal interpretation of the rail/coal resources in Welch. This is what one can see today. |
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| DAVY |
| Was incorporated in 1948. Davy is primarily a residential community in a coal mining district along the main line of the Norfolk Southern Railway. |
| There is no formal interpretation of the rail/coal resources in Davy. This is what one can see today. |
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| IAEGER |
| Iaeger was incorporated in 1917 and named for Colonel William G. W. Iaeger, whose son, Dr. William R. Iaeger, had a plat of the present town made about the year 1885. Once a railroad town, some of the structures still remain. |
| There is no formal interpretation of the rail/coal resources in Iaeger. This is what one can see today. |
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| KIMBALL |
| Located on State Route 52. Kimball was incorporated in 1911 and named for Frederick J. Kimball who was the second President of the Norfork and Western Railway. It was also home of the King Coal Company. The large administrative building still remains. As of 2000 census, the population stood at 411. Note: Kimball was the site of the first war memorial building erected in memory of the African-American veterans of World War I. |
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There is no formal interpretation of the rail/coal resources in Kimball at this time. The Depot, located 5 miles south of Welch on Rt 52 and 25 miles north of Bluefield on Rt 52. It is being developed into a cultural and museum center, will open soon. |
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| RODERFIELD |
| The railroad trestle and a few coal buildings including the administrative building are evidence that coal was once a major industry for this small community. |
| There is no formal interpretation of the rail/coal resources in Roderfield. This is what one can see today. |
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| TWIN BRANCH |
| Home of the Fordson Coal Company that was owned by Henry Ford during the 1920's. |
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| WAR |
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There is no formal interpretation of the rail/coal resources in War. This is what one can see today. |
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| For an inventory of all the tourism related offerings in McDowell County West Virginia, click here. |
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