Keystone Community Center and Library
🏢 West Virginia Library Network · Keystone, West Virginia
Keystone Community Center and Library
Keystone Community Center and Library serves one of West Virginia's most historically significant small towns — a McDowell County community founded in 1892 by the Keystone Coal & Coke Company and long known as the heart of the 'Free State of McDowell.' In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Keystone's unusual political and social openness made it a destination for African-American migrants who found greater civil freedoms and electoral power here than almost anywhere else in the state.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: Keystone, Keystone, WV 24852
Phone: (304) 436-3070
Website: mcdowell.lib.wv.us
Plus Code: 869WCG7X+XP (Keystone, WV)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Keystone Community Center and Library
Keystone Community Center and Library is a combined community and library facility in Keystone, a small city in McDowell County, West Virginia, at the far southern edge of the state. Keystone was founded in 1892 by the Keystone Coal & Coke Company — then known as Cassville — and incorporated in 1909. Its name reflects the coal and coke industry that built it. From the 1890s onward, the area became famous as the 'Free State of McDowell,' a phrase coined by Tom Whittico, founder of The McDowell Times (the first African-American newspaper in West Virginia), to describe the county's unconventional combination of political, social, and economic characteristics: African Americans in McDowell County possessed greater electoral power and civil freedoms than in almost any other corner of the state. On May 1, 1895, approximately 15,000 union miners assembled in Keystone to support unionization in neighboring Virginia mines, one of the earliest major labor gatherings in the region. As of 2020, Keystone has a population of 176 — one of the few municipalities in West Virginia with an African-American majority at 57 percent. The Keystone Community Center and Library serves this small but historically resonant community, connected to the West Virginia Library Network and the WV InfoDepot statewide resource portal.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Heart of the 'Free State of McDowell' — African-American miners and residents exercised greater civil freedoms and electoral power here than almost anywhere else in West Virginia
- Founded 1892 by the Keystone Coal & Coke Company, formerly known as Cassville; incorporated 1909
- Site of a landmark May 1895 labor rally when 15,000 union miners gathered to support unionization in neighboring Virginia
- Tom Whittico, founder of The McDowell Times (WV's first African-American newspaper), coined the 'Free State of McDowell' phrase to describe Keystone and its county
- One of the few municipalities in West Virginia with an African-American majority — 57% as of the 2020 census
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
West Virginia library cardholders can access statewide digital resources through the WV Library Network and WV InfoDepot:
📚 Services
- Public library services and physical collections
- Public computers and internet access
- West Virginia Library Network catalog access
- WV InfoDepot statewide digital resources
- Community center programming and meeting space
- Interlibrary loan through the West Virginia Library Network
🎸 Programs
- Community programming and events
- Children's reading programs
- Summer reading
- Community meeting space
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southern West Virginia
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Keystone · Browse all West Virginia libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Free State of McDowell' and how does it relate to Keystone?
The phrase 'Free State of McDowell' was coined by Tom Whittico, founder of The McDowell Times — West Virginia's first African-American newspaper — to describe the unusual political and social characteristics of McDowell County, with Keystone at its center. African-American residents here exercised greater civil freedoms and electoral power than almost anywhere else in the state in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, making Keystone a destination for Black migrants during the coal boom era.
How was Keystone founded, and what is its history?
Keystone was established in 1892 by the Keystone Coal & Coke Company — previously called Cassville — and incorporated in 1909. The city grew rapidly during the coal boom. On May 1, 1895, approximately 15,000 union miners assembled in Keystone to support unionization in neighboring Virginia. Today Keystone has a population of 176 and is one of the few municipalities in West Virginia with an African-American majority.
What digital resources are available to West Virginia library cardholders?
West Virginia library cardholders have access to WV InfoDepot — a free statewide portal for research databases, homework help, career resources, and government information. The West Virginia Library Network also enables interlibrary loan from participating public and academic libraries statewide. Ancestry Library Edition is available on-site for genealogy research.
Is Keystone Community Center and Library connected to McDowell Public Library?
The Keystone Community Center and Library serves the Keystone area separately from McDowell Public Library's main branch in Welch (90 Howard Street, (304) 436-3070) and its branches in Bradshaw, Iaeger, Northfork, and War. Both are part of the West Virginia Library Network.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.