A coal camp is a community built around a coal mine, where workers and their families live. These camps often provide housing, schools, and stores to support the mining workforce. Coal camps were especially common in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as the demand for coal increased for energy and industrial purposes. Life in a coal camp typically revolved around the mining industry, with many residents working in the mines. The camps were often company-owned, meaning that the mining companies controlled many aspects of daily life, including wages and living conditions. Over time, many coal camps declined as coal mining became less economically viable.