NORTHFORK, W.Va. -- Northfork High School may be gone, but residents of the McDowell County town aren't letting the school's achievements in basketball be forgotten.

A sign originally erected in the mid-1980s proclaiming Northfork the "Basketball Capital of the United States'' has been restored by the North-Elk Neighborhood Watch.

The sign sits on U.S. 52 at the town's southern entrance. It was damaged last year by strong winds, and was then struck by a tractor-trailer.

From 1971 through 1984, the boys basketball team won 10 Class AA state championships, including what was then a national record eight consecutive titles from 1974 to 1981. The Lady Blue Demons won state titles in 1976, 1977 and 1979.

Northfork High closed in 1985.

NORTHFORK, W.Va. -- Northfork High School may be gone, but residents of the McDowell County town aren't letting the school's achievements in basketball be forgotten.

A sign originally erected in the mid-1980s proclaiming Northfork the "Basketball Capital of the United States'' has been restored by the North-Elk Neighborhood Watch.

The sign sits on U.S. 52 at the town's southern entrance. It was damaged last year by strong winds, and was then struck by a tractor-trailer.

From 1971 through 1984, the boys basketball team won 10 Class AA state championships, including what was then a national record eight consecutive titles from 1974 to 1981. The Lady Blue Demons won state titles in 1976, 1977 and 1979.

Northfork High closed in 1985.