Nestled in the majestic Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia's
coal towns have powered the Industrial Revolution, power plants,
trains and ships for more than a century. Coal mining has seen a
steady decline during the past five decades, the number of people
living in the coal towns has declined to one fifth at the peak of
coal production, the unemployment rate of the remaining people
is among the highest in the country, the median household
income is one of the lowest ($10,500/year), and half of the
children are growing up below the poverty line. The goal of this
photography project is to put a human face on the decline of coal
mining, and to give viewers an intimate look into the quiet and
forgotten lives of the resilient people of the coal towns as they
struggle with the changes and an uncertain future.
