"This mountain man was barking at me like a dog..." | Northfork West Virginia ( McDowell County ) 🇺🇸 скачать в хорошем качестве

"This mountain man was barking at me like a dog..." | Northfork West Virginia ( McDowell County ) 🇺🇸

Welcome to Northfork - an unlikely little town tucked deep within the hills of Appalachia. From coal glory to basketball glory... to utter collapse. Northfork is a small town in McDowell County, West Virginia, located along U.S. Route 52 between Welch and Bluefield. It sits in the heart of southern West Virginia's historic coal country. The town was incorporated in 1901, taking its name from its position at the junction where the north fork of Elkhorn Creek meets the south fork. It developed primarily as a coal mining and railroad community during the early 20th-century boom in the region's bituminous coal industry. The Norfolk and Western Railway (now Norfolk Southern) ran through the area, supporting coal transport and local economy. Like many towns in McDowell County, Northfork thrived during the coal heyday of the early-to-mid 20th century. Population grew significantly post-World War II, peaking at 1,105 residents in the 1980 census. It was a bustling place with substantial buildings, train stations, hotels, and businesses tied to coal production. The decline of the coal industry in the late 20th century led to severe population loss and economic hardship. By the 2020 census, the population had fallen to 231 (down sharply from 429 in 2010 and continuing to trend downward). Recent estimates place it around 200-270, reflecting ongoing outmigration in rural Appalachia. Demographics show a majority-minority community in recent censuses, with a significant African American population (around 60% in 2020), tied to historical patterns of Black coal miners and families in southern West Virginia towns. One of the town's most famous claims to fame is its high school basketball team, the Northfork Blue Demons. From the 1970s through the early 1980s (especially 1971–1984), they were a dominant force in West Virginia Class AA basketball, winning multiple state championships and setting records for consecutive titles. The team drew national attention and remains a point of local pride in a region often called a "basketball capital" in its era. #appalachia #westvirginia #travel #poverty #usa If you enjoyed this video please don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE! Also, if you'd like to go the extra mile in supporting me, you can do so by checking me out on Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee. Links below: SUPPORT me on Patreon:   / chopsticksandtrains   SUPPORT me on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chopstic... Also, Youtube Memberships for the channel are NOW AVAILABLE!