Rosebud Mining Company's history began in 1979 when the company was founded by J. Clifford Forrest in East Brady, Pennsylvania and operated a railroad siding, loading coal on railcars.  Three years later in 1982, the Queenstown Coal Cleaning Plant facility was acquired.  After purchasing the cleaning plant, Rosebud began mining coal out of its first deep mine, Rosebud #1, during January 1983.   Rosebud #3 began operations in May of 1987 to replace the production of Rosebud #1.  The company began operating multiple mines when Roaring Run Mine was developed in November 1992.  

During the mid 1990's, Rosebud developed reserves located in other areas of Armstrong, Cambria, and Indiana counties which it had leased or acquired throughout the years.  Mines were developed as the market demand for coal allowed, with Rosebud opening new mines in the following order: Rosebud #2 (May 1996), Tracy Lynne (March 1997), Dutch Run (January 1998), Josephine #3 (July 1998), Armstrong Run (May 1999), Twin Rocks (August 2000), Clementine Mine and McVille Preparation Plant (January 2001), Stitt Mine (September 2001), Logansport (January 2002), and Little Toby (April 2003).  Beaver Valley Mine, Beaver County, PA, was purchased in August 2003. Lady Jane Preparation Plant (purchased in 2003) began operating in May 2004.   Keystone East Mine began producing coal in August 2004. Logansport Preparation Plant was completed and started operation in September of 2004.   During June 2005, Rosebud Mining Company purchased the Tusky Mine in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and continued operations at the mine. Penfield Mine began operation in May of 2006, along with the beginning of the rehabilitation of Mine #78, which is now operational. Mine #78 Preparation Plant was completed and started operating in February of 2008. In March of the same year, Toms Run (Burrell) Mine was purchased and reopened. Bigler Preparation Plant was purchased in June of 2008. In August of 2008, Rosebud completed and began operation at its Tusky Preparation Plant, opened its Lowry Mine, and purchased Darmac #2 Mine. The Heilwood Mine opened shortly after in September 2008. In July of 2009, the Harmony mine was opened.

On April 1, 2010, Rosebud purchased most of the assets of Buckeye Industrial Mining Company in Eastern Ohio. The purchase included five small surface mines, a deep mine renamed Bergholz #7 in Jefferson County, and the Kensington Prep Plant. In addition, Rosebud also completed the purchase of Parkwood Resources, Inc. on April 1, 2010. Parkwood owned and operated the Cherry Tree Mine in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.

Now, the company operates eighteen underground mines, six surface mines, and seven coal prepartation plants.  All of Rosebud's mines are located in Pennsylvania and Ohio, mining coal from the Upper Freeport, Lower Freeport, Upper Kittanning, Middle Kittanning, and Lower Kittanning seams.  The different seams provide flexibility to our Sales & Logistics team to blend coals into the specific qualities that our customers desire.  Various locations mitigate the risk of geologic problems effecting performance.

Rosebud Mining Company also operates McVille Preparation Plant, a mine-mouth coal cleaning plant which is fed a continuous supply of raw coal produced from the Clementine #1 deep mine.  During late 2000 - early 2001, the cleaning plant at Queenstown was dismantled, transported, and reconstructed as the McVille Preparation Plant.  The coal is removed from the mine and delivered to the plant by conveyor belt.  At the cleaning plant, coal is cleaned using modern coal preparation technology.  Cleaning involves removing impurities in the coal such as rock, shale, and sulfur to produce a higher quality coal (increases BTUs and decreases sulfur and ash content).  After the coal is washed, it can then be loaded onto trucks or railcar on the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad by the automated railroad load out.

During October of 2003, Rosebud purchased Penfield Collieries, LLC, which owned the Lady Jane Preparation Plant in Clearfield County.  Lady Jane now washes metallurgical and steam coals and ships via the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad.  It was upgraded in 2005 to include a flood load out system and an expanded clean coal inventory site.

Additionally, the Logansport Preparation Plant was constructed during the fall of 2004, becoming our second mine mouth cleaning plant.  The plant uses a heavy media vessel.  The plant currently only ships by truck, but Norfolk Southern rail access will be provided by Kiski Junction Railroad in 2010.

Another mine mouth cleaning plant, Mine #78 Preparation Plant, began operating in February of 2008. The plant is able to clean 600 tons per hour, and has rail access to Norfolk Southern.

The Bigler Preparation Plant was purchased in June of 2008. It is a 300 ton per hour plant and is serviced by RJ Cornman Railroad. Rosebud employees completely overhauled the plant in late 2008/early 2009.

The construction of the Tusky Preparation Plant, which is also a mine mouth cleaning plant, was completed in August of 2008. The plant is also a clean 300 ton per hour plant, and has rail access to the Ohio Central Railroad, which is now owned by the Gennessee & Wyomining Railroad.

The Buckeye acquistion add the Kensington Prep Plant as of April 1, 2010. Kensington is a 200 ton per hour plant and is on the Norfolk and Southern Railroad.

The present owner and President of Rosebud Mining Company, J. Clifford Forrest, feels that the company's employees are Rosebud's greatest resource.  All employees, whether working underground, maintenance, plant, or supervisory, each has contributed to the company's successful growth since 1979.  In April 2010, total company-wide employment approximated 1,100 people.