I grew up and still live in an area that is dotted everywhere with tiny mining towns that sprang up during booms in different hollers and have now been abandoned and totally forgotten, with no trace save for maybe a cellar here, a stack there, and the red creek water.

Historic mining towns weren't necessarily meant to last, and have been largely forgotten regardless of who primarily worked them. In my area, though, the African American history of these towns has seen a great resurgence, and people have taken specific interest in preserving the history of the African American towns. Unfortunately the same enthusiasm has not caught on for the Hungarian or German communities that were once near me, many of which are not lucky enough to have even a sign in remembrance of where they once worked and died. I've found that these things usually come in cycles.

Luckily, some people like me have been at least working to research and preserve maps and first-hand accounts throughout the 1800's to early 1900's. It's hard for some people to believe that the back road location that they share with two or three other houses once had 16 saloons and a hotel.

Local history is my favorite to research, and with mining towns it's often easier than people think. That being said, we're still suffering under the heavy burden of a lack of infrastructure, the opioid epidemic, and poverty that keeps people focusing on the "now", understandably so. People from outside of Appalachia often bring a stereotypical view or are disrespectful in their approach, which further exacerbates the problem IMO.