Founded in 1925 by M.L. Jones, the Coal Valley News has long served as the principal local newspaper for Boone County and the surrounding southern West Virginia coalfields. Based in Madison and Danville, the publication’s name reflects the region’s deep economic and cultural ties to the coal industry, which has defined the area since the first discovery of coal along the Coal River in the 1740s. For nearly a century, it has been recognized as a newspaper of public record, providing essential coverage of local news, high school sports, and community obituaries.

The newspaper gained significant notoriety in the early 1930s during a period of intense political and labor tension in the region. In 1931, the Coal Valley News printing plant was the target of a violent sabotage attempt allegedly orchestrated by Logan County Sheriff Tennis Hatfield. According to historical accounts, a deputy was paid to damage the facility to suppress the Guyan Valley News, a separate paper printed at the same plant that had been critical of the local Republican “Hatfield clique”. The attempt was thwarted when the paper’s assistant editor, Elmer Jones, surprised and shot the intruder, leading to a trial that exposed local corruption.

In more recent history, the Coal Valley News has transitioned through various ownerships while maintaining its role as a weekly broadsheet published every Wednesday. Formerly owned by Civitas Media, the publication was later acquired by HD Media LLC, a regional media group that also owns several other West Virginia outlets like the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Today, the newspaper continues to document the evolution of Boone County, balancing its traditional print legacy with a digital presence to serve a community that remains resilient despite the historical decline of the local coal industry.