An ongoing project by Mike Andrick
May 2007 - present
The Big Creek district in southern McDowell County, W.Va., is a region historically dependent on coal mining. However, changes in the industry that lead to a significant decrease in the number of jobs, the area is now one of the impoverished in the nation. In a place where education is second-rate and economic opportunity is scarce, residents remain proud of their home, their family and even their ignorance of what is outside their mountainous community. This project is intended to show the pride of people from an insular community and their fear of what may be beyond it.
War, West Virginia's southernmost city, was once a bustling coal mining town. But as nearly all mines closed by the mid-1980, the insular community nestled amongst the Appalachian hills is now left with empty storefronts and quiet streets.
THE COOPERS
Jerry Cooper, right, heads to a job re-roofing a house. His wife, Melissa, and son, Gabe, say goodbye from the front porch of their home. Work has been slow for Jerry who says he plans to move his family to Tennessee in search of employment.
Keila Cooper, 17, hugs her 8-month-old son, Caleb. Keila, the daughter of Jerry and Melissa Cooper, struggles with the life of young mother in high school, but says not graduating is the worst thing she could do for her baby.
Donnie Cooper is the father of 10 children who he raised on welfare. Cooper, whose wife died in 2000, lives with three of his children in the same house in which they grew up.
David Cooper, who is unemployed, spends his days walking the sidewalks of downtown War.
Jeff Cooper, left, is a garbage collector for the City of War. He is the only one of his family with a full-time job with benefits.
Jeff Cooper's mother-in-law, rests in her home in Bartley. Jeff's wife, Linda, takes care of her mother, who suffers from liver cancer.
THE MOORES
Chris Moore, 24, walks through the maze of dog cages and trash bags in the yard of his home.
Rosy Moore, right, Chris's wife, holds her son, Zackery, 1, on her lap as they sit on the front porch of the family’s trailer.
Chris's and Rosy's son Punkin Moore, 5, plays dead as the climax of an action movie he acted out in the front yard of the family’s home.
Chris Moore, right, sketches characters in a notebook as his son, Zackery, reaches out for his attention.
Chris Moore, left, and a co-worker maintenance a mining vehicle. Chris's job as a night watchman at the mine has him working 50 hours per week for $200 cash under the table -- $1.85 per hour less than the current U.S. minimum wage.
Coal miners’ boots line the wall at the office where Chris works.
Punkin Moore, center, sits in front of an old company store to take a break from Trick or Treating.
HOME