-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UmTT6UUtpLtgYxirzuRSL/8d2z8MYSZ2AuI+o9ovmfouaqLLDwE7sfJDp4+RcNQp
 fZ10UgPNAqfrryl7C/QD9Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-09-001481.txt : 20090424
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-09-001481.hdr.sgml : 20090424
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090424163757
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-09-001481
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090424
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090424
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090424

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOCHA PETER T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001011455

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-51129
		FILM NUMBER:		09770138

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		296 GRAYSON HIGHWAY
		CITY:			LAWRENCEVILLE
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30045

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			James River Coal CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001297720
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE SURFACE MINING [1221]
		IRS NUMBER:				541602012
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 E. BYRD STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1600
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23219
		BUSINESS PHONE:		804-780-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 E. BYRD STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1600
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23219
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001297720</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>James River Coal CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JRCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001011455</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SOCHA PETER T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>901 E. BYRD STREET, SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23219</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, Pres. and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13386</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>190372</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the mandatory surrender of shares to the issuer in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising from the deferred vesting of shares from May 25, 2005 to April 24, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Reported equity holdings do not include options to acquire 150,000 shares of common stock at $10.80 per share.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter T. Socha</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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