Bluefield, West Virginia

Bluefield is a small town in Mercer County, in southern West Virginia. It covers 8.7 sq mi (22.6 sq km) and has a population of 10,500 people (2012 estimate). The town is in the Appalachian Mountains, about 2,611 ft (795.8 m) above sea level.

Bluefield, West Virginia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bluefield,_West_Virginia.jpg
Author: SheepNotGoats


Due to its relatively high elevation, Bluefield experiences a humid continental climate with pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. July and August are the warmest months here, when the average high temperature touches 81°F (27°C). January is the coldest month, when the average low temperature drops to 26°F (-3°C). May is the wettest month in Bluefield, receiving 4.31 in (109.5 mm) of precipitation.

European settlement in the Bluefield area is traced to the Davidson and Bailey families who settled in the area in the 18th century. They built a fortified settlement to ward off attacks by the local Shawnee tribe.

One of the richest deposits of coal was discovered in Bluefield in the late 19th century. Mining of the coal began in 1890. The coal from Bluefield helped to drive the Industrial Revolution in the United States. It also fueled the US and British Navies during the two World Wars. At the height of its prosperity, Bluefield had one of the highest per capita ownership of automobiles of any city in the United States, giving it traffic jams long before such a phenomenon is experienced elsewhere, even New York City. The city of Bluefield was officially incorporated in 1889.

The years of prosperity did not last forever. The Great Depression brought severe hardship to the city. To top it off, a series of fires destroyed the downtown area. Bluefield would not be on its feet again until the Second World War.

Visiting Bluefield

Bluefield is reached by taking Interstate 77, turning off at Exit 1.

Places of Interest in Bluefield

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