The story of Follansbee begins with the first French explorers who claimed the Ohio River valley and developed trade with the Indians. They made alliances with many tribes including the Mingo Indians who occupied a small village known as the “Old Mingo Bottom” located on the land where Follansbee is today. The Mingo Indians had large fields of maize and the surrounding hills on both sides of the river were their hunting grounds. The Mingo Indians are the first well documented link to the region which is today’s Follansbee.