Bluefield, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town of Bluefield, Virginia
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Virginia Avenue (US 19)
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| Nickname(s):
Virginia's Tallest Town
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Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Virginia | |
| County | Tazewell | |
| Founded | 1860s | |
| Incorporated | 1883 | |
| Area | ||
| • Town | 9.50 sq mi (24.60 km2) | |
| • Land | 9.49 sq mi (24.59 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) | |
| Elevation | 2,369 ft (722 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Town | 5,096 | |
| • Density | 537/sq mi (207.2/km2) | |
| • Metro | 106,363 (Bluefield Micropolitan Area) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
24605
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| Area code(s) | 276 | |
| FIPS code | 51-08152 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1481874 | |
| Website | http://www.bluefieldva.org/ | |
Bluefield is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, United States. It is located along the Bluestone River. In 2020, about 5,096 people lived there. Bluefield is part of a larger area that includes Bluefield, West Virginia. This bigger area had about 106,363 people in 2020.
Contents
History of Bluefield
Bluefield has had a few different names over the years!
Early Beginnings
In the 1860s, the town started as a small post office called "Pin Hook." This name came from a small creek nearby. For a short time, it was known as Harman. This name honored a local hero from the American Civil War.
Becoming Graham
Later, people discovered a lot of coal in the area. A company was formed to build a railroad to the Pocahontas Coalfields. The town's name changed again to "Graham." This was to honor Colonel Thomas Graham, a rich businessman from Philadelphia. The town officially became "Graham" in 1884.
The Norfolk and Western railroad decided to build its main offices and train yards in Bluefield, West Virginia. This made Bluefield, West Virginia, grow much faster than Graham.
Changing to Bluefield
On June 10, 1924, the people of Graham voted to change the town's name. They wanted it to be "Bluefield, Virginia," just like the larger city in West Virginia. The vote passed, and the name changed. To celebrate, officials from both Bluefield, Virginia, and Bluefield, West Virginia, had a fun mock wedding ceremony in the city park!
Growth and Modern Times
Graham hoped to become a major city and tried to attract a steel industry. But the Great Depression in the 1930s stopped a lot of growth. Bluefield didn't really expand much until the 1950s. At that time, it added the small town of West Graham, Virginia. It also started to develop land in the open areas to the south.
Since the 1990s, Bluefield has continued to grow. After some big floods in the early 2000s, the town moved its government offices and police department. They moved them from the old downtown area (which flooded easily) to a higher spot. This new area now has stores, banks, and a medical center along U.S. Route 460.
Geography
Bluefield covers about 9.32 square miles (24.14 square kilometers) of land.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,021 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,554 | 52.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,917 | 23.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,752 | 43.6% | |
| 1930 | 3,906 | 41.9% | |
| 1940 | 3,921 | 0.4% | |
| 1950 | 4,212 | 7.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,235 | 0.5% | |
| 1970 | 5,286 | 24.8% | |
| 1980 | 5,946 | 12.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,363 | −9.8% | |
| 2000 | 5,078 | −5.3% | |
| 2010 | 5,444 | 7.2% | |
| 2020 | 5,096 | −6.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 5,078 people living in Bluefield. There were 2,134 households, and 1,423 families. The town had about 670 people per square mile.
Most of the people living in Bluefield were White (92.30%). There were also African American (4.86%), Asian (1.42%), and Native American (0.32%) residents.
About 18% of the population was under 18 years old. About 22.3% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 45 years.
Sports in Bluefield
Baseball
The Bluefield Blue Jays were a Minor League Baseball team. They played their games at Bowen Field. This stadium is in the city park and serves both Bluefield, Virginia, and its neighbor, Bluefield, West Virginia. Even though the park is run by the West Virginia city, the stadium itself is entirely in Virginia.
Starting in 2021, the Appalachian League changed. The Blue Jays team was replaced by a new team in a summer baseball league for college players.
College Sports
Bluefield University has many sports teams. These include basketball, soccer, baseball, and football.
High School Football
The Graham High School football team has won several state championships in Virginia! They won the Virginia High School League's Class 2 State Football Championship in 2024. They also won titles in 1962, 1989, 1995, 2018, and 2022.
Education
Bluefield has several schools and colleges:
- Graham High School
- Bluefield University
- Southwest Virginia Community College
Notable People
Some famous people have connections to Bluefield:
- Ahmad Bradshaw: An NFL football player.
- Bill Dudley: An NFL football player and a member of the Pro-Football Hall of Fame.
- Marl Young: A music director, known for his work on the TV show Here's Lucy.
Bluefield in Media
- The town was chosen as a filming location for the 1994 movie Lassie.
- Musicians have mentioned Bluefield in songs, like "Oh Virginia" by Blessid Union of Souls.
Images for kids
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Virginia Avenue in Bluefield
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The official seal of Bluefield, Virginia
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Map showing Bluefield's location in Virginia
See also
In Spanish: Bluefield (Virginia) para niños
