Cover Photo: An image of a small-town life in Kentucky (sourced by the author).
D&E Student Blog: This blog post was written by a D&E student, Gweny Wessling, in the ENGL 326: Writing for the Community course as a collaboration with Augusta.
The summer of 2022 was going to be a life changing moment for me. I was going away to a college that was five and half hours away from my family, friends—from everything that I have ever known. While I was nervous about the move to Elkins, West Virginia, everyone around me kept assuring me that West Virginia and Kentucky are “practically the same.” After that phrase was repeated to me like a broken record that whole summer, I really was expecting that West Virginia was going to be mirror reflection of Florence, Kentucky. That was by design: in my search for a college, I wanted something with a small-town vibe, something with trees and green space like home. I wanted it to, “feel like home.”
When first driving into Elkins, the small-town culture was the first thing that really caught my attention. Elkins has a population of 6,950, three high schools, three middle schools, and six elementary schools. By contrast, my hometown of Florence has a population of 33,202, with six high Schools, six middle schools and fifteen elementary schools. Just by seeing the population and how many schools there are in both towns, you can only imagine how big of a culture shock the small-town of Elkins was to me. In comparing Elkins to Florence there are a few things in common, each have a movie theater, Wal-Mart, hospital, and green space, “practically the same” is not the way I would describe them at all.
In Kentucky we are known for many things: horse racing, bourbon, and college basketball (you have to pick between the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville, and there is only one correct choice), and agriculture. These Kentucky specialties have become a part of our identity; it is what is talked about around the dinner table and what we see every day. I grew up ten minutes from Cincinnati, with a vibrant downtown full of restaurants, museums, major league sports teams, music venues and a diverse population. There is always something happening, even in the suburban area where I am from.
Fig. 1 An image of a small-town life in Kentucky (sourced by the author).
In West Virginia, I have noticed every town is a small town. The “hometown feel” is everywhere, even the more populated areas. The suburban areas are few and far between, here you are either from the city or from the country. The love for WVU is as strong as our love of UK, but even that feels different. That love is not as showy; it’s more of a down-home love, like the whole state lives in Morgantown.
Elkins, West Virginia, is a small mountain town tucked away in the Alleghenies, right in the heart of Appalachia. It’s the kind of place where the scenery is stunning, and the sense of community can be seen and felt every day. The connection to coal mining and history of the railroad can be seen all over Elkins, from the Elkins Depot welcome center to the West Virginia railroad museum. You can learn all about the rich history of train travel and coal mining in the surrounding areas. You can even catch a bite to eat at the Railyard Restaurant or pick up a coffee on Davis & Elkins campus at the Caboose.
I will always love the rolling hills of Kentucky, but they do not compare to the raw beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, New River Gorge, and Seneca Rocks. Being “outdoorsy” is not a term that is used here, since, for everyone, it is a way of life. Hunting, hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting is all right in your backyard. While you may not be able to be at a Starbucks in 10 minutes, I am certain that you can see one of the most beautiful mountain sunrises a few miles away from wherever you live. From coal mining to trains, the hardworking, blue-collar life can be felt all over the state. Here in Elkins, the town is known for railyards and passenger trains—we even have a caboose on campus. While times have changed, the city has preserved the history of Elkins, just like many towns across the state.
So, are Kentucky and West Virginia practically the same? My answer will be no. They both have a rich history that they are proud of and beautiful places to visit. While Kentucky will always be home, I will always be proud of the small college, in a train town, up in the mountains that has “felt like home” for the past three years.
D&E Student Bio: Gweny Wessling is a student athlete at Davis & Elkins College who is originally from Northern Kentucky. At D&E, she is majoring in Sports Management with minors in Communication and Environmental Science. When she’s not at a softball game, Gweny enjoys reading, being with friends, and being outdoors.