During The Great Depression, President Roosevelt devised initiatives to boost the economy. One of them was the brainchild of the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Arthurdale was to be the first of many proposed towns that were intended to be fully sustainable, unfortunately all that is left today is a ghost town.
In 1934, the town of Arthurdale began construction. It was designed by the first lady to serve as a fully sustainable community for coal miners who lost their jobs to the failing economy that marked the Great Depression. The plan was to create a community that was self sustaining, where residents would grow their own food and work in industries that sustained the community.
The town was the first of 99 planned communities intended the boost the economy. It consisted of 165 homes and a number of different community stores. Each house was allotted a certain amount of acreage for farming.
Its self sustaining goals as a community began to draw criticism for its socialist ideals, bolstered by communist concerns. Additionally, the population was almost entirely white, and the homesteaders passed a vote that barred black and Jewish people from joining the community.
The Arthurdale project ultimately failed during World War II, as its self sustainability did not meet with the success the first lady had originally envisioned.
Arthurdale was added to The National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and still remains open for tours. The town is is just a 30 minute drive from Morgantown.
Have you ever been to Arthurdale? Feel free to comment below and tell us about your visit.
To learn more about West Virginia, check out this drone footage captured at this abandoned town.
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