The Company's operations are located in the Central Appalachian and Illinois coal basin. James River Coal Company ("James River" or "Company") was formed in 1988 to acquire McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corporation ("McCoy Elkhorn") and Bell County Coal Corporation ("Bell County") and Blue Crystal Coal Sales Company, (now James River Coal Sales, Inc.) from Transco Coal Company. Since 1988, the Company has established a very competitive position in Eastern Kentucy through a series of acquisitions, including that of Johns Creek Coal Company (1992), Kinney Branch Mining, Inc. (1994), Leeco, Inc. ("Leeco") and Bledsoe Coal Corporation ("Bledsoe") (1995), Blue Diamond Coal Company ("Blue Diamond") (1998), Shamrock Coal Company (1999). The Company moved into the Illinois coal basin with its acquisition of Triad Mining ("Triad") (2005) and Cheyenne Resources in 2008.

For more information on James River Coal’s subsidiaries, please click on the specific mine of interest above.