Description: The Town Of Appalachia's office is located at 508 West Main Street, Appalachia Va. 24216.
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Town of APPALACHIA OUR HISTORY Appalachia officially became a town in 1908. Water came from Ben’s Branch into a dam owned by Cumberland Water Co. which furnished it to Clear Creek Water Co. Railroads hauled people and supplies in, coal out. Dozens of coal communities were erected to house the miners, some with their own schools, stores, hospitals, theaters, churches and cultures. As the town’s streets were laid out, stores on Main Street faced the railroads. Three hotels stayed full and passenger trains
The governing body held its first city-manager elections in 1931; prior to that an appointed mayor officiated according to our Town Charter. Several lasted only a month, or days, and our early Town Managers also resigned rapidly as the town continued to grow by leaps and bounds.
Coal was needed for steel, electricity and our economy boomed. Then machines replaced the men down in the mines and a mass exodus began which had a tragic domino effect. As families moved out, many stores closed. The cabs, busses and passenger trains became a memory, as did all but a few coal towns. The “bust” changed the face of Main Street, and our town officials are hard at work today looking at tourism to support our economy.