Can West Virginia be saved from drugs and depopulation?

File: file.png (571KB, 800x582px) Image search: [Google]

571KB, 800x582px

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/west-virginia/articles/2017-03-23/47-of-55-west-virginia-counties-lost-population-last-year?int=news-rec

http://archive.is/KWFyg

---

Despite the Eastern Panhandle's boom, population declines in West Virginia's southern coal-producing counties led to an overall drop in the state's population last year.

The Census figures show 47 of the state's 55 counties lost population from 2015 to 2016, including 20 counties that lost more than 200 residents.

Nine of the 10 counties that lost the most population were in southern West Virginia, which has seen a downturn in the coal industry in recent years.

Putnam County is the only southern county to gain population with an increase of 142 residents. Cabell County reversed several years of gains with a population loss of 666 residents.

Monongalia County, home of West Virginia University, gained 631 residents.

Overall, West Virginia's population fell by 9,951 to 1.83 million. The only state to lose more residents was Illinois.

---

Will coal ever come back?