McDowell County, West Virginia

Traveling on Route 16 South through the small town of Coalwood, birthplace of Homer Hickam. And then up one of the many winding mountain roads within that county. At 5:43 you can see how high up I really was. Ive traveled all over Appalachia and McDowell County is some of the roughest country Ive driven through. It truly is "Wild and Wonderful".

Heres some more information on the county:

McDowell County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 27,329. Its county seat is Welch. McDowell county is the southern-most county in the state, geographically. It was created in 1858 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for Virginia Governor James McDowell. It became a part of West Virginia in 1863, when several counties seceded from the state of Virginia during the American Civil War. McDowell County was also home of the famous Rocket Boys, who were from Coalwood.

McDowell County was formed from parts of Tazewell County, Virginia. It was named after James McDowell, a member of Congress and Governor of Virginia. The county is popularly referred to as the "Free State of McDowell," a name originally coined by a local newspaper editor to refer to the unusual politics and demographics of the area.

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Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Southern
• West
• Virginia
• McDowell
• County
• Cumberland
• Mountains
• Appalachia
• Appalachian
• Coal
• Mines
• Fields
• Trucks
• Rocket
• Boys
• Homer
• Hickam
• Route
• 16
• 83
• 52
• River
• Streams
• Panther
• State
• Forest
• Welch
• Bradshaw
• Berwind
• Lake
• English
• Bradley

[Dessipoo132]

How many of you actually live in McDowell county

[whatnot987]

@Dessipoo132 Well I live in Buchanan County, Virginia which is pretty much like southern McDowell County. Lol!

[cadjunk]

Love those mountains. I've never heard of Coalwood before now. Thanks for the tour. Take care. Gwen

[whatnot987]

@cadjunk You should watch the movie "October Sky". Its based on the life of Homer Hickam and takes place in his hometown of Coalwood. He built rockets during his teenage years and eventually went on to work for NASA. And you might want to also check out "cathead77's" video called "McDowell County, WV Scenery", it's really great. Thanks for watching Gwen.

[wvgitpicker]

At the 2:00 min. mark, I had a stroke in my buddys car coming in the other direction going towards Welch, that was in 2008 I believe. I was playing the guitar at a church in Amanote, Va. at the time and started getting sick, and my buddy and his wife and son was bringing me back home when I had the stroke. He pulled in the little country store and he called 911 there.

[wvgitpicker]

I have some videos up on my channel about a couple of places here and some Gospel music, and some crazy stuff, check it out. thanks.

[wvgitpicker]

I live in McDowell County also! I love it here.

[Woodsygirl62]

lived

[Woodsygirl62]

I subscribe to Alan/Cathead77..also I kived in McDowell County working with the missions for 3 yrs.. my heart belongs to WV.thanks for posting this.

[edviperrrr]

Pretty cool man.

[cadjunk]

@whatnot987 I'm subscribed to him, and have been listening to some of his music, and just went and watched the McDowell County crossing the Premier Mtn. in the rain, but I will certainly go check this other one out that you mentioned. Keep on sending that mountain scenery my way - I love it. I'll be up that way next week enjoying some good pickin and grinnin at the Daily and Vincent show in Radford, and I'll enjoy my drive up thru Afton Mountain and I 81 thru the mountains. Take care. Gwen