McDowell County Map, West Virginia
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McDowell County, West Virginia
Once upon a time, McDowell County was king. Coal was black gold, and this place had plenty. Now? It’s struggling a bit. But don’t count it out just yet. You’ll find it in the southernmost part of West Virginia, right up against Virginia.
The landscape is pure Appalachia with steep hills, deep valleys, and forests for miles. Welch is the county seat, a shadow of its former self but still hanging on. The people here are survivors. They’ve been through hell and back.
But there’s still pride here. And hope. The Hatfield-McCoy trails are bringing in tourists. New businesses are slowly popping up. It’s not an easy place to live. But for some, there’s no place they’d rather be. The soul of the mountains is strong here.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| County Name | McDowell County |
| County Seat | Welch |
| Population | Approximately 17,000 |
| Cities, Towns, and Communities | Welch, Gary, War, Anawalt, Northfork |
| Interstates and Highways | US-52, WV-16, WV-83, WV-103 |
| FIPS Code | 54-047 |
| Total Area (Land and Water) | 535 sq mi (Land: 533 sq mi; Water: 2 sq mi) |
| Adjacent Counties (and Direction) | Wyoming County (North), Mercer County (East), Tazewell County, Virginia (South), Buchanan County, Virginia (Southwest), Mingo County (Northwest) |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time Zone (ET) |
| State | West Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37.3641° N, 81.5853° W |
| Etymology | Named after James McDowell, a Governor of Virginia |
| Major Landmarks | Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area, Hatfield-McCoy Trails, Pinnacle Rock State Park |
| Website | McDowell County Website |
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