Coal production is the amount of coal mined and taken to market. Where does mining take place in the United States?
Although coal is mined in 33 states, more coal is mined in western states than in eastern states, a marked change from the past when most coal came from eastern underground mines.
The West’s share was just five percent of total production in 1968. In 2008, the West provided 58 percent of total production, and states east of the Mississippi River provided 42 percent.
Total U.S. production of coal was 1.17 billion tons in 2008, more than a 95 percent increase since 1973. The leading coal producing states are Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Montana. These five states produce 73 percent of the coal in the U.S.
Some coal produced in the United States is exported to other countries. In 2008, foreign countries bought almost seven percent of all the coal produced in the U.S. The biggest foreign markets for U.S. coal are Canada, Brazil, and some European countries.
Although coal is mined in 33 states, more coal is mined in western states than in eastern states, a marked change from the past when most coal came from eastern underground mines.
The West’s share was just five percent of total production in 1968. In 2008, the West provided 58 percent of total production, and states east of the Mississippi River provided 42 percent.
Total U.S. production of coal was 1.17 billion tons in 2008, more than a 95 percent increase since 1973. The leading coal producing states are Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Montana. These five states produce 73 percent of the coal in the U.S.
Some coal produced in the United States is exported to other countries. In 2008, foreign countries bought almost seven percent of all the coal produced in the U.S. The biggest foreign markets for U.S. coal are Canada, Brazil, and some European countries.