Vulcan, West Virginia

Vulcan, West Virginia
Houses along the railroad in Vulcan
Houses along the railroad in Vulcan
Vulcan, West Virginia is located in West Virginia
Vulcan, West Virginia
Vulcan, West Virginia
Vulcan, West Virginia is located in the United States
Vulcan, West Virginia
Vulcan, West Virginia
Coordinates: 37°33′08″N 82°07′33″W / 37.55222°N 82.12583°W / 37.55222; -82.12583
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyMingo
Elevation
738 ft (225 m)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
25697
Area code(s)304 & 681
GNIS feature ID1555899[1]

Vulcan is an unincorporated community in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States. Vulcan is located along the Tug Fork across from the state of Kentucky. The community was named after Vulcan, the god of fire in Roman mythology.[2] Vulcan received international attention when they requested aid from the Soviet Union to replace a collapsed bridge, the only legal entrance and exit into the community.[3]

Vulcan was originally settled as a coal-mining community in the early 20th century, but by 1968, the coal supply had been exhausted and the town experienced significant depopulation.[4]

  1. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, West Virginia: The Place Name Press. p. 652.
  3. ^ writer, Caity Coyne Staff (March 3, 2018). "Plight of Nolan residents stirs memories of 'bridge the Russians almost built'". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "A West Virginia Town Applied For Soviet Foreign Aid, and Other Lesser Known American History Facts". HistoryCollection.com. February 21, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2021.