WAL-MART COMES TO POVERTY-STRICKEN MC DOWELL

(10/25/2005)

McDowell County's new Wal-Mart Super Center in Kimball will open its doors today. The new 100,000-square-foot store includes eight full-service and six express check-out lanes and will employ nearly 230 workers, who were hired from a pool of more than 1,200 applicants. McDowell county, long declared one of the state's and nations poorest, is also expected to get a growth spur with the coming of a federal prison. The county has suffered the worst out-migration of WVs 55 counties. Since 1950 the county has lost about 75,000 residents and about 35,000 jobs. Most of the lost jobs are directly or indirectly related to the mechanization of coal mining and easy extraction by mountaintop removal. While McDowell and Mingo sits on one of the worlds greatest deposits of coal, they are among the most poverty stricken areas in America. Wal-Mart is West Virginia's largest private employer, employing 11,440 workers in 24 super centers, six discount stores and four Sams Clubs.

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