Crichton, West Virginia

Unincorporated community in West Virginia, United States

38°03′22″N 80°42′58″W / 38.05611°N 80.71611°W / 38.05611; -80.71611CountryUnited StatesStateWest VirginiaCounty GreenbrierElevation

2,940 ft (900 m)Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)Area code(s)304 & 681GNIS feature ID1554222^[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 approximately 100 residents and an elementary school.^[3]

References

^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "History of Coal in Cambria County". Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center. Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
^ "Other Greenbrier Field Coal Camps". Retrieved January 5, 2012.