Superior is an unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Superior is located on U.S. Route 52, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east-southeast of Welch.

The community most likely was named after the Lake Superior Coal Company.

Superior, West Virginia

Superior, West Virginia
By Buddy French

Superior was first known as Huger and was given that name in 1891 by the N&W Railroad during its expansion westward. In 1905, the name was changed to Dixon by the Dixon-Pocahontas Coal Company. Dixon-Pocahontas
began work on its No.1 mine on the north side of Elkhorn Creek by digging a 185 feet deep shaft down to the Pocahontas No. 4 coal seam. Coal shipments began in 1906 and in 1908, a second shaft was dug down to the
Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam. It was located on the south side of Elkhorn Creek, and it began shipping coal in 1909.

In 1913, Lake Superior Coal Company took over the Dixon-Pocahontas Coal Company mining operation and the name of the community was changed to Superior. The community housing was spreadout over the valley floor and both mountainsides. It had neighborhoods with colorful names like Good Husband Row, String Town, Middle Bottomand Blue Heaven. The original wooden company store was replaced with a new brick store. The unique thing about Superior was that it bordered Maitland. The two mining companies' tipples were no more than a quarter mile apart and you could stand with one foot in Superior and the other foot in Maitland. For that reason, the two communities shared the same school, Superior-Maitland Elementary.

In 1939, the No. 1 mine was renamed No. 3 and the No. 2 mine was changed to No. 4 mine. On Oct. 8, 1959, Lake Superior Coal Company merged with Cannelton Coal Company which later became Cannelton Industries. By 1986, all underground mining at Superior had ceased operations. Today, there does not appear to be a single original coal company house left in what was once the vibrant community of Superior. Only the company store remains (as seen below), and it closed its doors in 1963 and is now the McDowell County animal shelter.

Thanks to Alex Schust and his book "Billion Dollar Coalfield" where more information on the mining history at Superior can be found.