Gary, WV

united states

Gary is a small coal mining town in McDowell County, tucked into a narrow Appalachian valley along the Tug Fork River. US Route 52 runs directly through town, connecting north to Williamson (15 miles) and south toward Welch. Most traffic involves short trips to neighboring communities or longer journeys to Charleston, about 90 miles northeast via winding mountain roads. The town was once home to the world's largest coal preparation plant, built by U.S. Steel in the 1980s.