Crichton, West Virginia

Crichton, West Virginia
Unincorporated community
Crichton, West Virginia
Coordinates: 38°03′22″N 80°42′58″W / 38.05611°N 80.71611°W / 38.05611; -80.71611Coordinates: 38°03′22″N 80°42′58″W / 38.05611°N 80.71611°W / 38.05611; -80.71611
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Greenbrier
Elevation 2,940 ft (900 m)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s) 304 & 681
GNIS feature ID 1554222[1]

Crichton is an unincorporated community and coal town in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. Crichton is located near the western border of Quinwood.

History

Crichton was founded as a company town in 1921 by Walter Crichton for the nearby mine. The town and the mine were subsidiaries of Johnstown Coal and Coke which was a large mining company with its headquarters in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The company was formed in 1912 by Walter Crichton's brothers Harry and Andrew and the mine at Crichton was the first in a series of mines Walter was responsible for as the company expanded its reach into West Virginia and western Maryland.[2] The mine closed in 1951 and Johnstown Coal and Coke itself ceased all operations in 1959. The town is still home to around 100 residents and an elementary school.[3]

References

  1. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. "History of Coal in Cambria County". Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  3. "Other Greenbrier Field Coal Camps". Retrieved January 5, 2012.


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