Coal was discovered in the Kenilworth area by Heber Stowell in 1886. Western Coal & Coke Company began mining, and by the end of that year Independent Coal & Coke Company incorporated and took over operations. Construction on the townsite began in 1903, and by the 1910 census the town had 500 residents. The population peaked at around 1039 in 1917. As with most mining towns of this era, the company encouraged ethnic separation, and as a result the town was divided into distinct geographic areas, such as Jap Town and Greek Town. A group of houses west of town was built for management and became known as Silk Stocking Row. An addition known as New Town was added on the east side of Kenilworth in 1923, and the town stabilized until the mine closed in the late 1950's. North American Coal Co. purchased L.C. & C. in 1968 and broke tradition by letting residents buy their property, allowing Kenilworth to survive as it is today.