The Southern Appalachian region has long been one of the largest sources of coal within the world. Miners have been digging and blasting their way into the mountains of Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama for generations. The explosion in coal mining operations in Appalachia that started near the turn of the century altered the geographical region and the people of the region.

There was little use for coal in the 18th and 19th centuries, other than in blacksmith fires. Early Appalachian explorers often talked about the “fine veins of coal” that spread across the region. Thomas Jefferson referred to the massive amounts of coal in his Notes on Virginia.

The ending of the Civil War brought about a significant change and the Unites States entered a tremendous industrialization period. …show more content…
After the Civil War, coal barons from outside the region opened up shops throughout the hills, using better equipment and deeper pockets. Many independent operations joined together to form larger operations at the turn of the century. The consolidation of these industries set the stage for corporations such as U.S. Steel, to come on the scene.

The demand for coal from Southern Appalachia grew enormously with the inception of World War I. Mining companies began recruiting large numbers of European immigrants, as well as Black American migrants from the Deep South. These individuals became Appalachian miners and increased the number of mines operating in the region to nearly 12,000, with over 700,000 employees.

The coal mines of yesterday were more primitive and dangerous than those of today. Miners used hand drills to dig their way into the hillside and used heavy wooden timbers to shore up the walls and ceiling of the tunnel. They used mules to pull the coal from the depths of the mine shaft; mining cars were later invented to assist with this daunting task