Gary Map
Gary is a city in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States, along the Tug Fork River. The population was 968 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in McDowell County.
Gary was once a booming coal mining company town run by the United States Steel Corporation. Gary was incorporated on July 1, 1971, by popular vote of residents in an election held on March 16, 1970. Incorporation includes five communities: Elbert, Filbert, Gary, Thorpe, and Wilcoe. The town was named in honor of Judge Elbert Gary, one-time president of U.S. Steel Corporation. U.S. Steel shut down its Gary Operations in 1986. The principal industry is coal mining, but poverty and unemployment have plagued the area since the closing of U.S. Steel. Gary was home to the coal diggers before Gary High School and Gary Elementary School closed.
Gary was given its name in honor of former U.S. Steel Chairman Judge Elbert H. Gary.
Nearby cities include Roderfield, Pocahontas, Bramwell, Bradshaw, New Richmond.