One mountain over: Could a halfback wave save the Appalachian coalfields?

By: Jim Branscome

Outlets: West Virginia Watch

Published: May 11, 2026

Words: 2,745

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 6 days ago

Body Text Preview

In March 1775, Daniel Boone left the Yadkin River valley of North Carolina, crossed the Blue Ridge, threaded the Cumberland Gap, and blazed the Wilderness Road into what would become Kentucky. He had spent years in the Yadkin country — the same foothills now thick with golf-course retirement communities and second homes selling for seven figures. When he moved west, he moved one mountain over.

Two and a half centuries later, the path Boone walked …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us