Mount Hope in Fayette County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

New River Coalfield

Mt. Hope

— Coal Heritage Trail —

New River Coalfield Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 3, 2024

1. New River Coalfield Marker

Inscription. The New River field is one of the smokeless coal producing regions of southern West Virginia. It takes its name from the New River that generally bisects the field from north to south. Coal that produced little smoke when burned was very desirable in the early 1900s. This was especially true in cities, some of which restricted the amount of smoke that could be produced by railroads, factories, and domestic use. New River coal was considered a metallurgical-grade coal and primarily used to make coke for iron production.

The development of the coalfield coincided with the extension of rail lines of the C&O and the Virginian Railway. The first coal from this field was shipped in 1873 on the C&O from a mine operated by Joseph Lawton Beury, located at Quinnimont.

Southern West Virginia Coalfields
1-Winding Gulf
2-Flat Top/Pocahontas
3-Logan
4-Williamson
5-Kanawha - Coal River
6-New River
7- Greenbrier

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the Coal Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 37° 53.442′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

81° 10.305′ W. Marker is in Mount Hope, West Virginia, in Fayette County. It is on West Virginia 211, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 267 WV-211, Mount Hope WV 25880, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New River Gorge

and in Greater Charleston Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Phoenix City of the New River (here, next to this marker); Mine Safety (here, next to this marker); The Coming of the Railroads (here, next to this marker); The Coal Companies (here, next to this marker); The Dunloup Creek Watershed (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named The Dunloup Creek Watershed (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 3, 2024

2. New River Coalfield Marker

also named The Dunloup Creek Watershed (approx. 0.2 miles away); Siltix Mine Disaster (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mount Hope.

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 3, 2024

3. New River Coalfield Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 3, 2024

4. New River Coalfield Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 320 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 8, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.