User:Casseb/Coal mining in West Virginia

Coal mining in West Virginia is an industry that has had a pronounced impact on the state. The first mention of coal within the state was in 1742, though the large-scale development of the resource did not begin until the mid-1800s.

Besides being a major component of the West Virginia economy, coal mining has also been cited as one of the factors responsible for the state's high mortality rate and low health rankings.

Coal is also been embedded into the culture of West Virginia, with the official state rock being designated as bituminous coal in 2009.