Holden, WV

Holden is a quiet, tucked-away community in western Logan County, sitting just four miles southwest of Logan along the curves of Copperas Mine Fork. Like many towns in the region, Holden got its start in the early 1900s as a bustling hub for the Island Creek Coal Company. In its prime, the valley grew into a full-fledged company town, complete with local schools, neighborhood stores, a theater, a community pool, and family homes built right along the hollow.

ATTRJack Corn / Public domain

That coal heritage still shapes the town's character and close-knit feel. The community holds a deep respect for its past, especially the eighteen miners lost in the 1960 Island Creek No. 22 mine disaster, who are remembered today at the Route 18 memorial bridge. Holden has settled into a much calmer pace of life, though you can still see historic touches in the vintage houses and quiet roads following the creek. It remains a peaceful mountain community where local history and small-town pride run deep.