October Sky

Coalwood is an unincorporated community coal town in McDowell County, West Virginia, USA. As of the 1990 Census, the population was 900. The coal mine in Coalwood reached its peak in the 1960s and finally shut down production on October 1, 1982. The town is the setting of the best-selling memoir Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam. Coalwood was founded by George Lafayette Carter in 1905. He came on the back of a mule and eventually found rich seams of coal, and bought 20,000 acres. He constructed a mine, calling it the Carter Coal Company and built offices, houss, a schoolhouse, the Carter Coal Company Store, a church and more. In 1922, Carter sold the mine and properties within the town to the Consolidation Coal Company. Carter then regained the company in 1933. After Carter died his son took over and sold the mine to a group of industrialists in 1947. In 1956, the Coalwood mine was connected underground to the nearby Caretta mine which is also owned by Olga.