Bluefield, WV - Decline in Appalachia

[Ex-Ithacan]

I've been fascinated by West Virginia cities for some time now. I made a tour of the state back in the Fall of 2003. I decided it was time for another visit to Bluefield ( nine years later). Though the city has lost population since my first visit, it does seem to be trying to clean up some of the derelict structures. That said, there is still some sad sights there. I still love the place. It has a population of just over 10,000, about half of what it was in 1950. The micropolitan population is ~ 107,000. It's located near the Virginia border in Mercer County, but is not the county seat (that belongs to Princeton, a city just down the road and one I wish I has taken the time to visit). Here's a link for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluefield,_West_Virginia

Now to some pics (all downtown or within a couple of blocks).

1.

Bluefield, WV 075 by exithacan, on Flickr

2. The Bailey Building (1923)

Bluefield, WV 024 by exithacan, on Flickr

3. The Federal Street side of the Perry Building (1919)

Bluefield, WV 039 by exithacan, on Flickr

4. The Bland Street side of the Perry Building

Bluefield, WV 029 by exithacan, on Flickr

5. Recognizing the coal industry which built the city, along with the Norfolk and Western Railroad.

Bluefield, WV 030 by exithacan, on Flickr

6. The old City Hall (1924), now an art museum.

Bluefield, WV 031 by exithacan, on Flickr

7.

Bluefield, WV 033 by exithacan, on Flickr

8.

Bluefield, WV 032 by exithacan, on Flickr

9.

Bluefield, WV 027 by exithacan, on Flickr

10.

Bluefield, WV 028 by exithacan, on Flickr

11.

Bluefield, WV 035 by exithacan, on Flickr

12. Old parking structure coming down.

Bluefield, WV 038 by exithacan, on Flickr

13. The tallest; The West VirginiaHotel (1923), now senior housing.

Bluefield, WV 037 by exithacan, on Flickr

14.

Bluefield, WV 041 by exithacan, on Flickr

15.

Bluefield, WV 042 by exithacan, on Flickr

16.

Bluefield, WV 043 by exithacan, on Flickr

17.

Bluefield, WV 045 by exithacan, on Flickr

18.

Bluefield, WV 046 by exithacan, on Flickr

19.

Bluefield, WV 044 by exithacan, on Flickr

20.

Bluefield, WV 047 by exithacan, on Flickr

21. Gotta love this rascal.

Bluefield, WV 049 by exithacan, on Flickr

22.

Bluefield, WV 050 by exithacan, on Flickr

23.

Bluefield, WV 053 by exithacan, on Flickr

24. Elks Lodge & Opera House (1902, enlarged 1927)

Bluefield, WV 054 by exithacan, on Flickr

25.

Bluefield, WV 055 by exithacan, on Flickr


26.

Bluefield, WV 064 by exithacan, on Flickr

27.

Bluefield, WV 057 by exithacan, on Flickr

28.

Bluefield, WV 058 by exithacan, on Flickr

29.

Bluefield, WV 060 by exithacan, on Flickr

The city is full of steep hills and most of the housing is spread among the hills.

30.

Bluefield, WV 008 by exithacan, on Flickr

31.

Bluefield, WV 003 by exithacan, on Flickr

32.

Bluefield, WV 005 by exithacan, on Flickr

33.

Bluefield, WV 006 by exithacan, on Flickr

34.

Bluefield, WV 009 by exithacan, on Flickr

35. There are still a lot of abandoned housing units in the city.

Bluefield, WV 010 by exithacan, on Flickr

36. A block and 1/2 from downtown.

Bluefield, WV 082 by exithacan, on Flickr

37. ^ It's neighbor.

Bluefield, WV 083 by exithacan, on Flickr

38. And then there's empty lots where houses once stood.

Bluefield, WV 002 by exithacan, on Flickr

39, Lots of stairs to nothing but woods.

Bluefield, WV 012 by exithacan, on Flickr

40.

Bluefield, WV 013 by exithacan, on Flickr

41.

Bluefield, WV 019 by exithacan, on Flickr

42.

Bluefield, WV 004 by exithacan, on Flickr

43.

Bluefield, WV 014 by exithacan, on Flickr

44.

Bluefield, WV 015 by exithacan, on Flickr

45.

Bluefield, WV 016 by exithacan, on Flickr

46.

Bluefield, WV 017 by exithacan, on Flickr

47.

Bluefield, WV 018 by exithacan, on Flickr

48.

Bluefield, WV 023 by exithacan, on Flickr

49. The Kee Building (1911), the Federal Courthouse & Post Office.

Bluefield, WV 080 by exithacan, on Flickr

50. The Law And Commerce Building (1913)

Bluefield, WV 066 by exithacan, on Flickr

51.

Bluefield, WV 067 by exithacan, on Flickr

52. Commercial Bank Building (1922)

Bluefield, WV 073 by exithacan, on Flickr

53. Coal & Coke Building

Bluefield, WV 070 by exithacan, on Flickr

54.

Bluefield, WV 071 by exithacan, on Flickr

55.

Bluefield, WV 062 by exithacan, on Flickr

56.

Bluefield, WV 059 by exithacan, on Flickr

57.

Bluefield, WV 076 by exithacan, on Flickr

58. Norfolk and Southern Railroad Building

Bluefield, WV 084 by exithacan, on Flickr

59.

Bluefield, WV 078 by exithacan, on Flickr

60.

Bluefield, WV 079 by exithacan, on Flickr

61. I found this aerial shot of the city, but no date given.

Bluefield, WV 052 by exithacan, on Flickr

62. Notice there is a large empty area on the right side of this pic.

Bluefield, WV 001 by exithacan, on Flickr

63. ^ The buildings on the left in this 2003 pic (except for the last one) are gone.

Downtown Bluefield, WV 5 by exithacan, on Flickr

64. Bye Bye Bluefield

Bluefield, WV 007 by exithacan, on Flickr


Hope you enjoyed.