CoalTown, USA

Starting in 1870, thousands of African Americans and European Immigrants came to West Virginia to become coal miners. African Americans workers were drawn to West Virginia to escape the economic challenges and oppressive living conditions of the south after the Civil War. Many European Immigrants came to the area to pursue the American Dream and established ethic communities in Coal Camps in McDowell County, WV. They found commonalities in being near their fellow Italians, Hungarians, Poles, Austrians, and Russians since many didn’t speak English when they arrived. This collaborative group of men with lots of optimism and determination rose to the challenge of Appalachian mountain life and became Coal Miners. The worked in the coal mines with an optimistic hope of building a better life for their families. By 1909, African Americans and European Immigrants made up over 60 percent of West Virginia mine workers. These miners exerted a powerful influence upon the culture in the Coalfields that we still experience today in the region in our foods and traditions. These workers were also instrumental in creating early organized labor movements that led to mining regulations and safety standards we see today in the industry. Mining was considered one of the nation’s most hazardous occupations and when miners died, which was common, their bereaved families were evicted from company-owned houses immediately and left to fend for themselves. Today, while still dangerous, coal mining has strict safety standards in place and workers are prepared with training and equipment. We honor all Coal Miners and their families in Coaltown, USA. We’ve created the CoalTown Miner’s Gallery of Honor to recognize miners who built the community we love in Coaltown, USA! If you have Coal Miner that you’d like to honor, please email us a photo, name, and years they worked in the mine and where and we will add them to the Miner’s Gallery of Honor.