Hype for the Future 96F: McDowell County, West Virginia

Introduction

Geographically the southernmost of the fifty-five (55) counties representing the State of West Virginia, McDowell County is located deep within the Appalachian Mountains, west of the Bluefield area and east of Pikeville, Kentucky. Today the poorest county in the United States of America per capita, the region is historically known for coal mining operations, along with nearby regions in southern West Virginia, western Virginia, and eastern Kentucky. The coalfields are of cultural and historical significance because of resource extraction, in which the communities have depended on such a monoculture to thrive.

Context

The Town of Welch serves as the county seat of McDowell, the southernmost county located in the State of West Virginia, with the Jack Caffrey Arts and Cultural Center representing the primary tourist attraction for the local community. To the west along Route 52 is the Wilmore Dam, most notable for the ATV culture of the surrounding area; however, even the industry of tourism has not successfully enabled the distressed county to recover in any way.

Hype for the Future 96B: Mercer County, West Virginia

Introduction

One of the southernmost counties of the State of West Virginia, the community of Bluefield is primarily located within Mercer County, including the site of Bluefield State University. Unlike many other colleges and universities, though like many of the regional institutions throughout the Southern United States, car dependency is completely inevitable at Bluefield State within the area. Princeton is located further north along Interstate 77, and the Town of Athens, even further north, is generally home to the more walkable site of Concord University.

Attractions

The community of Princeton, named for Princeton in Mercer County, New Jersey, serves as the county seat and is home to the Mercer County War Museum, the Mercer County Historical Society, and the Princeton Railroad Museum.