Gilliam

West Virginia's ghost towns are coal company towns, owned outright by the mine and abandoned the same way.

Gilliam is an unincorporated community on the North Fork River in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. It lies between Algoma and Rolfe along County Route 17. The community was named after one Mr. Gilliam, a coal-mining official.

The on-the-ground condition of Gilliam is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Gilliam is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Gilliam is roughly 37.4239, -81.4150 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.