[RunItUpTheGut]

This might be a dumb question, but how big is coal for Bell County? Compared to places like Pike, Martin, Perry, Harlan, Letcher, etc?

Maybe even more so in comparison. Some of those other counties had so much coal that they took a few hit here and there and were still fine.

It has dramatically affected Bell. There top producers are gone, and last I remember, im not sure there is a single strip job in Bell County anymore. Places like Straight Creek (formerly Xinergy) provided a LOT of jobs and kept many businesses open.

Bell is more or less depleted.