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McDowell County

McDowell County, the southernmost county in West Virginia, was created on February 28, 1858, from part of Tazewell County, Virginia. The new county was named after James McDowell, a governor of Virginia.

Mapped Points

• Welch

  Welch became the county seat of McDowell County in 1892, 34 years after the county was created.
  

  

• Keystone

  Keystone, incorporated in 1909, was known for its racial diversity. The city boasted the state’s first-ever African-American mayor and was home to M.T. Whittico’s McDowell Times, the state’s leading minority newspaper.

• Kimball

  The War Memorial in Kimball was the first building in the country erected to honor African-Americans who fought in World War I.
  

  

• Coalwood

  Coalwood is the birthplace of author Homer Hickam. In 1998, Hickam published his memoir, Rocket Boys, that recalled the waning days of coal mining in Coalwood.

• Panther State Forest

  Panther State Forest, located near Iaeger, is West Virginia’s southernmost state forest. The forest derives its name from Panther Creek

• Gary

  The United States Coal & Coke’s sprawling McDowell County industrial complex known collectively as Gary was for half a century among West Virginia’s most productive coal mines.

• Tug Fork

  The Tug Fork originates near the town of Jenkinjones at the corner of Mercer and McDowell counties and Tazewell County, Virginia, at an elevation of 2,450 feet.

• Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area

  Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area is managed primarily for forest game including turkey, deer, squirrel, raccoon, and grouse. Extensive day-use recreational facilities are provided, including hiking trails, picnicking facilities, and a swimming pool.