Coal Mining and Industrialization in Appalachia (1870–1930)

1. C&O railroad reaches New River Gorge coal

   Oct 1, 1873Labels: C&O Railroad, New River

   • NPS Quinnimont

2. Railroads drive rapid mine and town growth

   Jan 1, 1880Labels: Coal camps, Company towns

   • NPS Quinnimont
   • WV Encyl N

3. First Pocahontas coal reaches Norfolk by rail

   Mar 17, 1883Labels: Pocahontas coalfield, Norfolk &

   • WV Encyl N

4. United Mine Workers of America founded

   Jan 25, 1890Labels: United Mine, Columbus Ohio

   • UMWA
   • Smithsonian UMW

5. Monongah disaster intensifies mine-safety debate

   Dec 6, 1907Labels: Monongah disaster, Monongah WV

   • Britannica Monongah

6. U.S. Bureau of Mines established

   May 16, 1910Labels: U S, Federal government

   • MSHA Bureau

7. Paint Creek–Cabin Creek strike begins in West Virginia

   Apr 18, 1912Labels: Paint Creek, Kanawha County

   • NPS Paint Creek
   • Paint Creek Strike

8. Martial law imposed during the strike

   Feb 1, 1913Labels: Martial law, West Virginia

   • NPS Paint Creek

9. West Virginia Coal Association formed

   Jan 1, 1915Labels: West Virginia, Coal operators

   • WV Encyl WVCA

10. Thurmond boomtown peaks with coal-and-rail traffic

    Jan 1, 1920Labels: Thurmond WV, C&O Railroad

    • NPS Thurmond

11. Matewan shootout sparks wider mine-war escalation

    May 19, 1920Labels: Matewan shootout, Baldwin-Felts

    • NPS Matewan

12. Battle of Blair Mountain breaks out

    Aug 25, 1921Labels: Battle of, Logan County

    • Blair Mountain
    • JAH Review

13. Hawks Nest Tunnel construction begins, exposing workers to silica

    Jan 1, 1930Labels: Hawks Nest, Silicosis

    • NPS Hawks Nest