Anawalt, West Virginia (WV), an unincorporated community in McDowell County on Indian Creek, a tributary of the upper Tug Fork River, was named in honor of Colonel Angus Anawalt, manager of Union Supply Co., a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corp., which operated coal mines in the area. Like many towns in McDowell County, the dramatic decline in coal mining over the past half-century has resulted in a significant population decline.
Lodging near Anawalt, West Virginia
History of Anawalt
The community now known as Anawalt began as the small settlement of Jeanette. Around 1909, the U.S. Coal & Coke Company established a coal camp here tied to its Gary No. 12 mining operations—part of the illustrious Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam, prized for its metallurgical grade quality. In recognition of James White Anawalt, the manager of the Union Supply Company, the camp was renamed "Anawalt."
The town prospered quickly. From a modest population of about 500 residents in 1909, it surged to approximately 1,777 by 1920, complete with a growing business district including the Bank of Anawalt, a soft drink factory, and even a movie theater. The Gary No. 12 coal mine began shipping in 1912, was idled in 1924, reopened during World War II in 1943, suffered a fire at its tipple in 1947, and was finally exhausted by 1949. A northside extension of the mine operated briefly into 1952 before closing once its resources were depleted.
In 1949, it was officially incorporated as a town, even as the coal era waned. Over the subsequent decades, like many coal towns across McDowell County, Anawalt experienced a gradual decline in both its economic and demographic conditions as mining jobs disappeared.
In southern McDowell County, the town covers just 0.57 square miles, all of it land. By the 2020 census, the population had shrunk to 186 residents. The broader region once thrived as a vital part of the Flat Top–Pocahontas Coalfield, with communities often built as company towns along mountainsides for convenient coal extraction.
It sits amid scenic Appalachian terrain. Just a couple of miles southeast lies the Anawalt Lake Wildlife Management Area—a nearly 1,800-acre expanse featuring hardwood forests, hunting, and fishing opportunities in a seven-acre stocked lake.
Its story is emblematic of many Appalachian coal towns: born of the early 20th-century industrial boom, shaped by company-led development, incorporated amid prosperity, and later challenged by resource exhaustion and economic shifts. Yet, nestled in an area of rugged beauty and recreation, its legacy remains both historical and quietly alive.
Parks & Public Recreation
The Anawalt Lake Wildlife Management Area is located two miles southeast of the town. The following public recreation areas are located within a drive of approximately 20 miles of the community.
Pinnacle Rock State Park
Indian Ridge ATV Trail System
Pocahontas ATV Trail System
Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area
Location
Anawalt is located approximately 20 miles southeast of the county seat at Welch, West Virginia, and 20 miles northwest of Bluefield, West Virginia.
Map of Anawalt, West Virginia
Regional Information
Anawalt is located in the Hatfield & McCoy Region in southern West Virginia.
