The Stonega Coke & Coal Company was a typical large southern Appalachian bituminous coal producer with mines in Virginia and West Virginia. It built nine coal camps near the town of Appalachia, Virginia. These coal camps are representative of the more than 500 coal towns built from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. The building of company towns, or coal camps, began in the 1880's and peaked in the early 1920's. Coal operations and their associated towns consisted of company-built houses, churches, schools, theatres, dance halls, and even graveyards. The company provided each camp with a doctor, nurse, and hospital.

During the 1950's, life changed dramatically for the residents of the coal camps. Economic troubles began and many of the company facilities were dismantled. With the advent of the automobile, the need to live close to work was not as great. As the use of machinery increased, the need for workers decreased. Many moved to Ohio and Indiana to work in the automotive industry. With workers leaving the coal camps, stores, theatres, and everything else began to close. Most of the coal camps are still in existence, but they are now small communities with maybe a church and a small post office.