V. Where Coal Once Burned

Hundreds of unidentified coal mines burrow beneath the surface of Perry County, Ohio, and its surrounding communities, forming a skeleton of the region’s once-thriving economy. These towns, known as The Little Cities of Black Diamonds, once thrived; reliant on coal, miners, and the economic flow this industry supplied. However, since coal’s peak in Ohio during the 19th century, industrialization, technological advances, and shifting energy priorities have pushed the industry into decline, weakening the demand for coal. 

IV. Ohio’s Forgotten Mining History

Abandoned small towns throughout the Southeastern Appalachian region of Ohio share roots deep within the mining industry. These towns are commonly called “Little Cities of Black Diamonds,” honoring their historical ties to coal, industrialization, and once flourishing economies. 

 Perry County, Ohio, is among these Little Cities of Black Diamonds. Once an industrial hub consisting of multiple coal boomtowns, Perry County and its residents have faced economic declines since the mid-1900s.

II. The Warren County Protests and the Birth of the Modern Environmental Justice Movement

One of the most infamous catalysts for the modern environmental justice movement is the Warren County PCB Protests that unfolded in Afton, North Carolina throughout the mid-1980s. These protests defined contemporary modes of environmental justice, highlighting intersections of race and economic status to every human’s right to safe and habitable land.

I. Poisoned Land: Love Canal and the Origins of Superfund Sites

Located in Niagara Falls, New York, the Love Canal site encompasses 16 acres that were once home to working-class families; however, its rooting on poisoned land serves as a reminder of the violent consequences of improper disposal of hazardous waste. 

In 1984, William T. Love purchased the land now labeled as Love Canal, with plans to build a canal connecting Niagara Falls to Lake Ontario to harness hydroelectric power.