Coal Company Towns Quiz
Appalachian mining settlements (10 questions).
Coal Company Towns Quiz: Quick Study Notes
Appalachian coal company towns were unique industrial settlements built and controlled by mining companies, primarily from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. These towns provided housing, stores, and services for miners and their families, often in remote mountainous areas. While offering stable employment, they also exerted extensive control over residents’ lives, influencing everything from wages to social activities. Understanding these settlements is crucial for grasping the socio-economic history of the Appalachian region and the broader American industrial landscape.
Key Aspects of Appalachian Coal Towns
Born from the booming coal industry to house workers near remote mines, especially late 1800s to mid-1900s.
Companies owned nearly everything—housing, stores, schools, churches, and recreation—leading to significant control over residents’ lives.
Often operated on a “truck system” where wages were paid in company scrip or store credit, limiting economic freedom.
Began declining mid-20th century due to mechanization, depletion of coal seams, and improved transportation reducing isolation.
Key Takeaways
- Industrial Necessity: Created to support remote coal mining operations where housing and services were otherwise unavailable.
- Total Control: Mining companies typically owned and managed every aspect of life, from housing and utilities to commerce and social institutions.
- Scrip Economy: The “truck system,” involving company scrip redeemable only at the company store, often trapped workers in debt.
- Community Structure: Characterized by uniform, company-owned housing, often built quickly and cheaply, with little room for private ownership.
- Labor Relations: Frequently centers of intense labor disputes, strikes, and efforts to suppress independent unionization.
- Enduring Legacy: Profoundly shaped Appalachian culture, economy, and landscape, leaving a complex heritage of both stability and exploitation.
- Post-WWII Decline: Mechanization of mining, exhaustion of easily accessible coal, and the rise of unions led to their gradual abandonment and transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was a coal company town?
A coal company town was a settlement built and wholly owned by a coal mining company to house its workers and their families, typically located near remote mining sites.
Where were most coal company towns located?
The vast majority of coal company towns were established in the Appalachian Mountain region of the eastern United States, spanning states like West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Tennessee.
How did company towns control residents’ lives?
Companies controlled residents’ lives by owning their homes, operating stores (often with scrip), providing services like schools and healthcare, and sometimes influencing social and political activities, creating a system of dependence.
What was “scrip” in a company town?
Scrip was a private currency issued by the company to its employees, redeemable only at the company store or for company services. It limited workers’ ability to shop elsewhere and often kept them in debt.
Why did coal company towns decline?
Their decline was primarily due to the mechanization of mining operations, reducing the need for large workforces, and the exhaustion of accessible coal seams. Improved transportation also allowed miners to commute from independent communities, and increased unionization challenged company control.
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