Kempton, Maryland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kempton is a ghost town in Garrett County, Maryland.[1] Kempton is also partially located in Tucker County, West Virginia.[2]
Kempton is located on the North Branch Potomac River,[3] which feeds the larger Potomac River.[4] Runoff from human activity at Kempton feeds the wetlands at Laurel Run.[3] Kempton contains a vast mining complex, much of which has been reforested.[5] Mining at Kempton takes up more than 7,680 acres of land.[4] Kempton is partially located in Tucker County, West Virginia, close to Thomas.[2] The location of the town is nearby to several notable natural sites, such as Blackwater Falls State Park and the Dolly Sods Wilderness.[2]
History
Kempton was founded in 1913 as a company town of the coal industry.[6] Kempton was founded by the Davis Coal and Coke Company.[7] In 1915, mining operations began at Kempton Mine Company, a subsidiary of Davis C&C Company.[8] By the 1930s, Kempton's population had grown to approximately 900 residents.[6] In 1950, the main mine, Mine No.42,[9] closed unexpectedly.[6]
