COAL PATCH TOWNS
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Coal companies built “coal patch” or "coal camp" villages and towns near their coal mines throughout Kentucky and other coal mining states. Coal patch villages and towns differed from other villages and towns in that they were not incorporated, did not have elected officials and were wholly owned by the coal company which controlled who lived within their confines. The coal company generally provided lots for churches and schools to be built.
Jackson, Breathitt County 1896
Dunham, Letcher County
Typical of Coal Patch lay-out was the company owned housing shown in this 1910 photo of West Fleming, Kentucky. This represents some of the better company housing available to miners and mine employees at that time.
Hardburly, in Perry County, a typical Coal Patch town in a valley setting with the company boarding house and store in the foreground (lower left), company housing in the center and the mine in the background (center).
Weeksbury, Floyd County 1948
Town of Lynch, Kentucky, once the largest coal camp in the U.S. with more than 10,000 residents.
U.S. Coal & Coke Co. Store, Lynch
Portal 31 United States Coal & Coke Co., Lynch
U.S. Coal & Coke Co. Coal Processing Plant, Lynch
Bluegrass Coal Co. Camp near Hazard, KY 1920
Elkhorn Mining Corp. Houses, Garrett, KY 1914
Elkhorn Mining Corp. Houses, Wayland, KY 1914
Elkhorn Mining Corp. Houses, Haymond, KY 1914
Elkhorn Mining Corp. Houses, Hemphill, KY 1914
Newly completed company housing, Elkhorn Mining Corp. 1914
Company housing, Elkhorn Mining Corp. 1914
Company housing under construction , Elkhorn Mining Corp. 1914
Fleming, KY, looking down Wright's Fork 1914
Fleming, KY, looking up Wright's Fork with company houses at lower left, 1914
Company Housing at Consolidation Coal Co. Mine No. 203 - Jenkins, KY
Company Housing at Consolidation Coal Co. Mine No. 202 - Jenkins, KY
