Bluefield is a town in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population is 10,447 at the 2010 census. It is the core city of the Bluefield region of WV-VA, which has a population of 107,342.
Video Bluefield, West Virginia
Geography
Bluefield is located on 37Ã, Â ° 15? 44? N 81 Â ° 13? 7? W (37.262219, -81.218674) in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia across the state border of Bluefield, Virginia.
According to the US Census Bureau, the city has a total area of ​​8.86 square miles (22.95 km 2 ), all land.
Maps Bluefield, West Virginia
Demographics
census 2010
At the 2010 census, there were 10,447 people, 4,643 households, and 2,772 families living in the city. Population density was 1,179.1 inhabitants per square mile (455.3/km 2 ). There are 5,457 housing units with an average density of 615.9 per square mile (237.8/km 2 ). City's racial makeup is 73.7% White, 23.0% African American, 0.3% Native Americans, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% of other races, and 2.3% of two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race is 0.9% of the population.
There are 4,643 households in which 26.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% are married couples who live together, 16.5% have a housewife without a husband, 4.6% have one male housekeeping without wife's presence, and 40.3% is not a family. 35.0% of all households are individuals and 15.1% have a self-sufficient 65 or older. The average household size is 2.21 and the average family size is 2.83.
The average age in the city is 43.1 years. 20.8% of the population is under 18 years of age; 9.2% were between 18 and 24; 22.2% from 25 to 44; 28.6% is from 45 to 64; and 19.2% are 65 years old or older. City gender determination was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.
census 2000
In the 2000 census, there were 11,451 people, 5,038 households, and 3,078 families living in the city. Population density is 1,311.3 people per square mile (506.4 km/km²). There are 5,966 housing units with an average density of 683.2 per square mile (263.9/km²). City's racial makeup is 75.84% White, 22.14% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Island, 0.21% of other races, and 1.13 % of two or more races. Hispanic or Latino from any race is 0.52% of the population.
There are 5,038 households in which 24.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% are married couples who live together, 13.9% have a housewife with no husband present, and 38, 9% is not a family. 34.9% of all households are individuals and 17.5% have a self-sufficient 65 or older. The average household size is 2.23 and the average family size is 2.87.
The age distribution is 21.5% below the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% 65 years or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 women, there are 84.4 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there are 79.5 men.
The average income for households in the city is $ 27,672, and the average income for families is $ 36,508. Men have an average income of $ 31,396 compared to $ 21,051 for women. The per capita income for the city is $ 17,751. Approximately 13.0% of families and 19.3% of the population are below the poverty line, including 28.2% of those under the age of 18 and 10.9% of those aged 65 years or older.
History
The history of Bluefield in Europe-America began in the 18th century, when two families settled in the rough and remote parts of southern West Virginia. Others joined them and they built a small village with mills, churches, one-room schools, and a fort to defend the settlements against the invasion by the Shawnee Indians, who had a village on the banks of the River Bluestone.
In 1882, the descendants of Davidson and Bailey's family sold some of their land, when Captain John Fields of Norfolk and Western Railway pioneered the area and began building new railroads through the Bluefield hills. The city is traditionally considered to be named after the chicory flower in the area, which gives the fields a deep purplish blue color during the summer. Research has shown that this settlement, also known as the Higginbotham Summit in the 1880s, may be named for coal fields developed in the Bluestone River area.
Coal flow
In Davidsons and Baileys underground lay the largest and richest bituminous coal deposits in the world. The first layer was found near Pocahontas, Virginia in Jordan Nelson's backyard. President Frederick Kimball of Norfolk and Western Railway described this as "the most spectacular discovery on this continent and possibly from across the planet." Coal layers were mentioned long ago in Thomas Jefferson Notes on the State of Virginia , but were not mined until 1890.
Around that time, a coal mine was developed in the area around Harman, Bluefield, War, and Pocahontas, which together are known as Pocahontas Coal Field. They help support the Industrial Revolution in the United States. The development of the coal industry in this area creates an explosion in the local and national economy, and attracts African American immigrant workers and African migrants from Deep South to the mountains in search of industrial employment. During the Great War and World War II, coal from this area supplied the United States and Britain's navies.
At the end of the 19th century, Norfolk and Western Company chose Bluefield as its central site and repair center, which greatly stimulated the growth of the city. In the one-year period from 1887 to 1888, passenger travel along the railroads increased 317%. Like the very fast growth in San Francisco during the gold rush, Bluefield became a city that appeared to be popping "overnight." Growth goes far beyond existing infrastructure. Urban cultivation and blight were common complaints in the early days, as workers crowded aging housing.
The growth and decay of the city depends largely on Norfolk and the Western Railroad. When coal tonnage is good and the market for coal is booming, Bluefield is basically "Little New York," as it was called on that day. A bustling metropolis, has a nightlife and personality that is "a bit Chicago, a little New York, and a lot of Pittsburgh" - rugged and with steel and coal embedded in his soul.
The coal explosion resulted in a flood of money in the area. The nearby Bramwell, founded in 1888, boasted that it was the "City of Millionaires" because more millionaires per capita lived there than anywhere else in the country. The city also has more cars per capita than any other city in the country.
In 1889, the city of Bluefield was officially established. The city government was always known at the time as corrupt, inefficient, with drunken fights and fights on the floor of the City Hall almost every day.
With a strong ethnic community, Bluefield is home to the Birufield Coloured Institute, a historic black college in 1895. It was developed as the current Bluefield State College.
20th century
During the 1920s, the twelve-story Hotel Virginian was built. It has been adapted and in the 21st century operated as West Virginia Manor and Home Retirement. In 1924, near Graham, Virginia decided to rename himself as Bluefield to try to unite the two cities, which have been at war since the civil war. Nobel Prize-winning economist and mathematician John Forbes Nash was born in Bluefield in 1928.
The Great Depression severely damaged Bluefield. With the government almost bankrupt, after a series of devastating structural fires swept down the downtown area, the city was almost destroyed. It was not until the outbreak of World War II that coal production was revived.
The strategic importance of the city was so great that Adolf Hitler put Bluefield on the list of targets for his famous German air strike in the United States. Air raid drill exercises are common in the city during this time.
Thomas Edd Mayfield, one of the Mayfield Brothers Bluegrass musicians from West Texas, died of leukemia at the Bluefield hospital in 1958 at the age of thirty-two. She is on tour here with Bill Monroe and Bluegrass Boys.
The Interstate Highway System was built through East River Mountain on December 20, 1974; for the first time car traffic can reach the city without crossing the mountain peak. Dependence on railroads is reduced and restructuring is changing the industry. Bluefield lost his job and population as a result. Amtraknya station closed in the 1980s. Mercer Mall, the main shopping center in the area, opened in 1980.
Educational institutions
- Bluefield SMA
- Bluefield State College
- Valley View School of Seventh-day Adventists
Climate
Bluefield is a mountainous city with a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) bordering the humid continent ( Dfa/Dfb ) or highland climate, due to its altitude. It is characterized by quite cold winters, snowy and warm fun for hot summers. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the city is 97Ã, Â ° F (36Ã, Â ° C) with the coldest temperature at -21Ã, Â ° F.
Culture
Bluefield is proud of its friendly climate. Since 1938 the Chamber of Commerce has provided free lemonade when temperatures have exceeded 90 ° F. The city's motto is "air-conditioned city, where summer spends winter."
Song of jazz musician Louis Jordan "Salt Pork, W.Va." inspired by his time at the Bluefield prison.
The song "Sweet Georgia Brown" was co-written by Maceo Pinkard, originally from Bluefield.
There is controversy over whether or not Hank Williams was last seen alive in Bluefield en route to a show in Ohio. He was found dead in Oak Hill, West Virginia.
Bluefield was mentioned in the song 1973 Stylistics Rockin 'Roll Baby as the birthplace of Li'l Joe.
Bluefield is the birthplace of the fictional character Rita Stapleton Bauer on CBS Guiding Light soap.
Sports
Bluefield is the home of the Appalachian League (rookie) Bluefield Orioles baseball team until 2010. The Orioles have had teams at Bluefield since 1958, which is the longest relationship between the parent club and a city in the affiliated baseball. Toronto Blue Jays replaces Baltimore for the 2011 season with Bluefield Blue Jays. The team plays at Bowen Field (former Orioles stadium) and some renovations have been made to the ball park.
Bluefield High School has 522 state championships in all sports, which is more than any other AA school in the state. Bluefield also ranks third in the total football country championship with ten. They are now closed down the street Ceredo-Kenova High School (12) and the national powerhouse Parkersburg High School (11).
Bluefield is largely a city of football and competition between Bluefield Beavers and their twin cities, Bluefield, Virginia Graham G-Men always attracts a large crowd at Mitchell Stadium. 2005 saw the introduction of Bluefield Barons, the Alliance Football League team.
Bluefield is also home to the five-star East River Soccer Complex and hosts local high school and college matches. Southern West Virginia Virginia King soldiers from PDL USL played their home game at the East River Soccer Complex.
Bluefield is also home to Rough and Rowdy Brawl, an amateur boxing tournament owned by barstool sports and broadcasted on pay per view through its website. This tournament features many local and non-local fighters competing in 3 rounds a minute.
Famous people
- The famous mathematician John Forbes Nash, Jr. was born in Bluefield on June 13, 1928. His life became the basis for the biography of Sylvia Nasar, A Beautiful Mind, and a film of the same name starring Russell Crowe.
- John S. Knight's newspaper publisher was born in Bluefield.
- The punk band of horror, Blitzkid started in Bluefield, WV in the winter of 1997.
- Intellectuals, professors, and solidarity activists Steven Salaita are from Bluefield, WV.
References
External links
- Bluefield, travel guide from West Virginia from Wikivoyage
- City website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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