FSA Reflections: Southwest Virginia – Number 5

Written by Ryan Salyers

One big change I’ve noticed in St. Paul over my lifetime is how the town has shifted from being mostly a coal community to focusing more ontourism and outdoor recreation. When I was younger, a lot of families around here still depended on mining, but now you see people coming in to visit places like the Clinch River, Spearhead Trails, and the new restaurants and shops downtown. It’s helped bring more life and jobs to the area, especially for younger folks who don’t want to move away to find work. The environment has also benefited from the cleanup of the river and the push for eco-tourism has made the area a lot prettier and healthier. It’s definitely changed the way people see St. Paul and we’ve gone from being a “coal town” to a small but growing outdoor destination. Working with the Guild ties into that because we’re all about keeping that growth sustainable and making sure locals have a part in it. I think it’s made people around here more proud of where they’re from.