The 1970s were eventful years for West Virginia. That was when Kanawha County had its famous textbook controversy. It was also when a plane carrying Marshall University’s football team crashed and tragically killed everyone on board. The Buffalo Creek disaster happened in 1972. Our governors were Arch Moore and Jay Rockefeller during that decade. As historic as these happenings were, some of the more forgotten moments of the era are preserved in photos of the 1970s in West Virginia. Do you recognizes any of the places in these historic Mountain State photos?

1. This was the coal town of Raleigh (in Raleigh County) in 1974.
Jack Corn/Wikicommons
Today, West Virginia is a top producer of coal. This became a particularly profitable industry circa the end of the Civil War, when railroad construction made its transportation easy and affordable. By the 1970s, the coal industry was in an... interesting place. There were national and local coal strikes, with one particularly memorable one lasting from December of 1977 to March of 1978.
2. Children play in a puddle in a neighborhood in Boomer in June 1975.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
3. Smithers on a Summer evening in 1973.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
4. This was the entrance to the Center Market in Wheeling in 1977.
Jack Boucher/Library of Congress
At the other end of the state, another interesting piece of architecture was unveiled. 1977 was the year that the New River Gorge Bridge opened in Fayetteville!
5. This was a service station on Route 60.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
6. Women sunbathe at the Glasgow swimming pool in 1973.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
7. This was the mine supervisors’ housing in a coal company town near Logan.
Jack Corn/wikicommons
Logan, as you may know, was the heart of the wildcat mine strike in 1976. What started as a localized disagreement eventually inspired thousands, with the walkout including as many as 120,000 workers after a coal company refused to respect an arbitration decision.
8. This was Capitol Street in Charleston in 1973.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
9. Here's another view of Capitol Street in 1973.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
10. This was taken on the West Virginia Turnpike north of Beckley in 1974.
Jack Corn/wikicommons
About an hour away from Beckley, Kanawha County students, parents, and residents were wrapped up in an intense textbook debate that year. Truly, it was more of a political conflict over what was considered appropriate to teach in school. While such discussion is appropriate in the political arena, it should never pour into the lives of students... but this one did. Bombs were planted in elementary schools, school buses were attacked, and students were harassed. The conflict died down when one of its primary instigators was sentenced to prison time.
11. This was a trailer park in Poca, across the Kanawha River from the John Amos Power Plant.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons

Related Stories

These Two Little-Known 900-Foot Cliffs Memorialize A Revolutionary War Double Agent Who Died In West Virginia

These Two Little-Known 900-Foot Cliffs Memorialize A Revolutionary War Double Agent Who Died In West Virginia

 These 12 Rare Photos Show West Virginia's Mining History Like Never Before

These 12 Rare Photos Show West Virginia's Mining History Like Never Before

 There’s A Ghost Town Hidden In The Woods At West Virginia's New River Gorge National River

There’s A Ghost Town Hidden In The Woods At West Virginia's New River Gorge National River
12. This was a Union Carbide plant in Alloy (Fayette County) in 1975.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
13. This was the city of Charleston in 1973.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
1973 was a huge year for WV. Why, you ask? Well, we adopted the trout and black bear as our state fish and state animal, respectively.
14. Kids play a basketball game on Church Avenue in Rand (1973).
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
15. Here's another view of Rand in 1973.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons/wikicommons
16. This was the town of Boomer as seen from across the Kanawha River.
public domain
If you're wondering where this town gets its name, it comes from the local Boomer Branch stream.
17. Kids play a game of softball in Boomer, 1975.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
18. Cedar Grove in 1973.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
19. A boat passes a barge on the Kanawha River in 1973.
Harry Schaefer/wikicommons
Archaeological evidence tells us that ancient indigenous peoples lives around the Kanawha River, possibly as early as 12,500 BCE. While Clovis artifacts have been found in the area, there's also evidence of later and more familiar groups like groups of the Huron Nation.
20. Former president Jimmy Carter and U.S. Sen. Jennings Randolph wave from a motorcade in Elkins in 1978.
Photographer unknown/wikicommons
21. This is a look at houses in a coal company town near Logan in 1974.
Jack Corn/wikicommons
22. This was Clothier in Boone County in 1974.
Jack Corn/Wikicommons
Boone County, believe it or not, has a name inspired by a celebrity of the 1770s. Frontiersman Daniel Boone was a resident of the Point Pleasant area in the 1780s following some academic struggles in the former decade. Eventually, his presence inspired the area enough to name this particular county in his honor.

What do you think of these photos of the 1970s in West Virginia? What has changed and what’s stayed the same? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Love local history? Explore the story of West Virginia before it became a U.S. State.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

photos of the 1970s in West Virginia

Nikki Rhoades | October 04, 2020

What are the oldest structures in West Virginia?

The Mountain State is full of some incredible structures, many of which are historic and beautiful. The Beverly farm has been operating since 1750, and some historic buildings from its long lifetime are preserved on-site.

What is the oldest town in West Virginia?

The oldest community in WV is actually up for debate, as both Romney and Shepherdstown were chartered in 1762.

Are there any haunted restaurants or bars in West Virginia?

When you look back on West Virginia's history, you may find yourself wondering if any of its historic residents are still lingering around. There are many haunted places in the area, including Civil War era ghosts in Harpers Ferry and frustrated indigenous souls at Camden Park, which was supposedly built on a burial mound.

Related Articles

Explore West Virginia

Featured Addresses
West Virginia, USA