Come Visit McDowell County!!!
"Home Of The Rocket Boys"
Please view the slide show below to see the new McDowell County Visitors and Veterans Center. The Center is located in Kimball directly on U.S Route 52. The Center is open during the week and the facilities may be rented for community events. E-mail us for more information. The new Center is located just across from the Veteran's Memorial Building in Kimball dedicated to the African American Veterans of World War I. This is the only such memorial in the nation!
"Come Visit McDowell County!"
Welch, WV
Updated Saturday, May 17, 2008 8:40 AM
Cloudy | 52°F | High: 69°F
Low: 50°F
Wind: 0 mph
Humidity: 82%
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Sunday
64° / 46° | 
Monday
66° / 47° |
Tuesday
68° / 53° |
Wednesday
72° / 51° |
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The purpose of this site is to demonstrate the excellent attractions in one of the most unique and beautiful places in America. We invite you to come and enjoy our mountains and ride the ridges on your ATV. Please review this site and contact us for any additional information.
The Council of the Southern Mountains is a community action agency dedicated to helping our communities. For more information visit our website at:
There are many beautiful destinations in our county and we welcome you to visit our site and then come and enjoy all the unique attractions. Come "Ride the Ridges" on your ATV, fish our streams or visit some of the most interesting coal heritage destinations in the region. These attractions make McDowell County one of the most exciting places to visit in the entire region.
HISTORY
McDowell was formed in 1858 from part of Tazewell County, VA. It derived its name from the Governor of Virginia in 1843, James McDowell. Almost 150 years ago, the area was considered extremely inaccessible, and although the railroad and basic roads improved this condition, it is still sparsely populated, making it an area worthy of exploration. Welch is the county seat and it is the largest city in McDowell County with a population of just over 3,000. So come see the sights and not a lot of traffic jams!
McDowell County is nationally known for its prominence in the coal mining industry, setting records for coal production and is a major player in the state's economy. Before the industry's decline that began in the 1950s, McDowell's population was almost at 100,000 residents but today is around 24,000.