|
Bluefield, WV - Decline in Appalachia
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. 
__________________
Get off my lawn you whippersnappers!!!!!
Retired, now Grandpa Daycare
Last edited by Ex-Ithacan; Jan 6, 2013 at 3:48 AM.
|
Prev
Linear Mode
