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Yards, Virginia and West Virginia facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Yards is a small, interesting place that sits right on the border between two states in the United States: Virginia and West Virginia! It's what we call an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that aren't officially a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger counties around it.

Quick facts for kids
Yards
Yards, Virginia and West Virginia is located in West Virginia
Yards, Virginia and West Virginia
Yards, Virginia and West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Yards, Virginia and West Virginia is located in the United States
Yards, Virginia and West Virginia
Yards, Virginia and West Virginia
Location in the United States
Country United States
States Virginia and West Virginia
County Tazewell (Virginia) and Mercer (West Virginia)
Elevation
2,382 ft (726 m)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID 1477028

Where is Yards Located?

Yards is found in a beautiful area near the Bluestone River. If you look on a map, you'll see it's about 4 miles (or about 6.4 kilometers) northwest of a town called Bluefield, Virginia. This unique community is split between Tazewell County in Virginia and Mercer County in West Virginia. Imagine living in a place where one side of your street is in one state and the other side is in a different one!

Why is it Called 'Yards'?

The name "Yards" might sound a bit unusual for a community, but it has a cool history! It was named because of the important railroad yards that used to be there. A railroad yard is a place where trains are stored, sorted, and prepared for their journeys. These yards were a big part of the area's past, showing how important railroads were for moving goods and people long ago.

A Look at the Past: The Post Office

For many years, Yards had its own post office. This post office was located on the Virginia side of the border. It opened way back in 1888, which means it served the community for over a hundred years! A post office is where people send and receive letters and packages. It's often a central spot for a community. The Yards post office closed its doors on May 28, 1994.

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