Vulcan is an unincorporated community in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States. Vulcan is located along the Tug Fork across from the state of Kentucky. The community was named after Vulcan, the god of fire in Roman mythology.[2] Vulcan received international attention when they requested aid from the Soviet Union to replace a collapsed bridge, the only legal entrance and exit into the community.[3]
Vulcan was originally settled as a coal-mining community in the early 20th century, but by 1968, the coal supply had been exhausted and the town experienced significant depopulation.[4]
Vulcan lacked a road connection to the rest of West Virginia and relied on a swinging bridge across the Tug Fork to Kentucky Route 194. The bridge was too narrow for vehicular traffic and had deteriorated by the early 1970s with missing boards.[4]
In 1974–75, the bridge had completely collapsed due to wood rot, and the mayor of Vulcan had unsuccessfully lobbied both the state and federal government to replace it.[5][6] Because of a lack of action, in 1977, the self-appointed mayor of Vulcan, John Robinette, requested foreign aid from the Soviet Union and East Germany to replace the town's bridge.[7] Soviet journalist Iona Andronov visited Vulcan on December 17, 1977, to meet with Robinette and survey the problem. Within an hour of his visit, reporters were told that the state would replace the bridge. The West Virginia Legislature provided $1.3 million in funding to replace the bridge which opened in 1980.[3][8][9]
Vulcan in 2014
Referencesedit
Media related to Vulcan, West Virginia at Wikimedia Commons
^Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 652.
^ abwriter, Caity Coyne Staff (March 3, 2018). "Plight of Nolan residents stirs memories of 'bridge the Russians almost built'". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
^ ab"A West Virginia Town Applied For Soviet Foreign Aid, and Other Lesser Known American History Facts". HistoryCollection.com. February 21, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
^. Vanderbilt Television News Archive. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
^Times, Gregory Jaynes Special to The New York (December 16, 1978). "Stranded Mining Town Awaits Bridge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
^AppalachianMagazine. . Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
^DePARLE, JASON (July 22, 1991). "West Virginia Roads: A Bumpy Legacy Lives On". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
^"West Virginia Bridge Being Built Without Russian Aid". Ocala Star-Banner. January 2, 1980. Retrieved February 25, 2018 – via Google Newspaper Archive.
vulcan, west, virginia, other, uses, vulcan, disambiguation, vulcan, unincorporated, community, mingo, county, west, virginia, united, states, vulcan, located, along, fork, across, from, state, kentucky, community, named, after, vulcan, fire, roman, mythology,. For other uses see Vulcan disambiguation Vulcan is an unincorporated community in Mingo County West Virginia United States Vulcan is located along the Tug Fork across from the state of Kentucky The community was named after Vulcan the god of fire in Roman mythology 2 Vulcan received international attention when they requested aid from the Soviet Union to replace a collapsed bridge the only legal entrance and exit into the community 3 Vulcan West VirginiaUnincorporated communityPostmark from Vulcan West VirginiaVulcan West VirginiaShow map of West VirginiaVulcan West VirginiaShow map of the United StatesCoordinates 37 33 08 N 82 07 33 W 37 55222 N 82 12583 W 37 55222 82 12583CountryUnited StatesStateWest VirginiaCountyMingoElevation738 ft 225 m Time zoneUTC 5 Eastern EST Summer DST UTC 4 EDT ZIP codes25697Area code s 304 amp 681GNIS feature ID1555899 1 Vulcan was originally settled as a coal mining community in the early 20th century but by 1968 the coal supply had been exhausted and the town experienced significant depopulation 4 Bridge editMain article Vulcan Bridge Vulcan lacked a road connection to the rest of West Virginia and relied on a swinging bridge across the Tug Fork to Kentucky Route 194 The bridge was too narrow for vehicular traffic and had deteriorated by the early 1970s with missing boards 4 In 1974 75 the bridge had completely collapsed due to wood rot and the mayor of Vulcan had unsuccessfully lobbied both the state and federal government to replace it 5 6 Because of a lack of action in 1977 the self appointed mayor of Vulcan John Robinette requested foreign aid from the Soviet Union and East Germany to replace the town s bridge 7 Soviet journalist Iona Andronov visited Vulcan on December 17 1977 to meet with Robinette and survey the problem Within an hour of his visit reporters were told that the state would replace the bridge The West Virginia Legislature provided 1 3 million in funding to replace the bridge which opened in 1980 3 8 9 nbsp Vulcan in 2014References edit nbsp Media related to Vulcan West Virginia at Wikimedia Commons US Board on Geographic Names United States Geological Survey October 25 2007 Retrieved January 31 2008 Kenny Hamill 1945 West Virginia Place Names Their Origin and Meaning Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains Piedmont WV The Place Name Press p 652 a b writer Caity Coyne Staff March 3 2018 Plight of Nolan residents stirs memories of bridge the Russians almost built Charleston Gazette Mail Retrieved September 24 2021 a b A West Virginia Town Applied For Soviet Foreign Aid and Other Lesser Known American History Facts HistoryCollection com February 21 2020 Retrieved September 24 2021 West Virginia Town Access Problem CBS Evening News for Friday Aug 12 1977 Vanderbilt Television News Archive Archived from the original on February 28 2018 Retrieved March 7 2018 Times Gregory Jaynes Special to The New York December 16 1978 Stranded Mining Town Awaits Bridge The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved September 24 2021 AppalachianMagazine The West Virginia Town That Applied For Soviet Foreign Aid Appalachian Magazine Archived from the original on February 25 2018 Retrieved September 24 2021 DePARLE JASON July 22 1991 West Virginia Roads A Bumpy Legacy Lives On The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved February 26 2018 West Virginia Bridge Being Built Without Russian Aid Ocala Star Banner January 2 1980 Retrieved February 25 2018 via Google Newspaper Archive nbsp This article about a location in Mingo County West Virginia is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vulcan West Virginia amp oldid 1225782729, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
