[2] East Lynn began as a small merchant community known as Twin Creek but eventually grew as a coal town.

The Big Sandy, East Lynn & Guyan Railroad was formed in 1903 and merged with the Norfolk and Western in 1908.

East Lynn continued to grow in the 1910s and at various times had three movie theaters, doctors, lawyers, and a detective agency.

Rockspring Development reopened a mine near East Lynn on Camp Creek, but as of 2005[update] it has not created any new growth for the town itself.

East Lynn is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).