Keystone West Virginia: Sodom & Gomorrah of Appalachia

Keystone, West Virginia, tucked away in McDowell County, carries a dark and infamous history. Once called the "Sodom and Gomorrah of Appalachia," this small town earned a notorious reputation that spread far beyond the coalfields. In the early 20th century, a section of town known as Cinder Bottom became a red-light district filled with brothels, saloons, and rampant lawlessness. Coal miners flocked there for entertainment, while violence and corruption were routine. The local police, rather than enforcing the law, profited from the illegal businesses by collecting bribes. The brothels were controlled not by outcasts but by savvy businesswomen who built empires in this gritty underworld. These madams navigated legal loopholes, moving constantly to avoid getting caught. Despite its dangerous reputation, Cinder Bottom was a thriving hub of vice, operating under a system that valued profit over morality. Keystone’s notoriety didn’t end there. In the 1990s, it became the epicenter of a massive banking scandal. The First National Bank of Keystone collapsed after a $500 million fraud scheme, costing taxpayers up to $850 million. The bank’s head, Terry Church, tried to cover up the corruption, but the FBI uncovered the truth. This marked one of the biggest bank failures in U.S. history. Today, Keystone is a shell of its former self, with crumbling buildings and a dwindling population. Though its days of scandal are in the past, the town’s history of vice and corruption still lingers. Become a Patron today & get perks: https://www.patreon.com/MountainRootsProductions Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTBWr1yzRQFE-0q4hiWJ1Jg/join Watch more Mountain Roots: Exploring Appalachia: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd5S6Lk3vL9l0t9N4FmrXht64AT-s9fcD If you want to contact us for business inquiries or collaboration opportunities, email: [email protected] Also find us on facebook @mountainrootshomestead Snail Mail: Mountain Roots Productions PO Box 664 New Castle, VA, 24127 #appalachia #appalachian #mountainroots