Bluefield
Around Bluefield
Photo: SheepNotGoats (Talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · West Virginia · 96k people
Bluefield
Locals say the Virginias · “Nature's Air Conditioned City”
Two states, one mountain home.
Deep BlueGold
Welcome to the Virginias, where the mountains meet the sky and the people are as warm as a coal stove. Whether you're here for the trails, the history, or just a good pepperoni roll, you'll find a home in these hollers.
Clubs for Bluefield
No clubs for Bluefield yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Bluefield. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Bluefield. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Pinnacle Rock State Park Iconic sandstone cliff with panoramic mountain views.
- Bluefield Coal & Railroad Museum Housed in the historic Norfolk & Western station.
- Princeton Railroad Museum Railroad artifacts and local history in Princeton.
- Bluefield State University Public university with a hilltop campus overlooking the city.
- Mercer County Courthouse Historic courthouse in downtown Princeton.
- Hatfield-McCoy Trail System Massive ATV trail network through the mountains.
- Outdoors Ride ATVs on the Hatfield-McCoy trails
- Outdoors Hike to Pinnacle Rock
- With kids Tour the Bluefield Coal & Railroad Museum
- With kids Watch a game at Bowen Field
- Evenings Local taverns with live music
- Evenings Community theater productions
- Locals love Mountain overlooks
- Locals love Small-town diners
Through the year
- Bluefield Coal & Railroad Festival May Celebrates the region's coal and railroad heritage with parades, music, and food.
- Mercer County Fair August Classic county fair with livestock, rides, and local food in Princeton.
- Tazewell County Fair August Virginia-side fair with agricultural exhibits and entertainment.
- Ramp Festival April Springtime celebration of wild leeks with dinners and mountain music.
- Princeton Street Fair September Downtown street fair with crafts, vendors, and live music.
The Virginias have four distinct seasons with cold winters, mild springs, warm summers, and crisp autumns. Mountain fog is common, and the best time to be out is fall for the colors and mild temperatures. Best: Fall (September–October) offers crisp air and brilliant foliage; spring is also pleasant but rainy.
Talk like a local
- “holler”
- A small valley or hollow between mountains.
- “fixin' to”
- About to do something.
- “y'all”
- All of you.
- “crick”
- A creek or small stream.
Getaways
- Beckley, WV Tamarack arts center and gateway to New River Gorge.
- Blacksburg, VA Virginia Tech campus, downtown, and nearby Cascades waterfall.
- Roanoke, VA City life, museums, and the Roanoke Star.
- Mount Airy, NC Mayberry-inspired downtown and local music.
Local flavour
Rooting for West Virginia Mountaineers, Virginia Tech Hokies
Eat and drink
- Pepperoni Rolls A West Virginia staple—soft bread rolls stuffed with pepperoni, often from local bakeries.
- Biscuits and Gravy Hearty breakfast favorite found in small-town diners.
- Ramps (Wild Leeks) Foraged in the mountains, celebrated in spring festivals.
Where people go
- ATV Trail Systems The Hatfield-McCoy Trails and other off-road networks draw riders from across the country.
- Small-Town Diners Classic eateries serving home-style meals and strong coffee.
- Mountain Overlooks Scenic viewpoints along the Appalachian ridges.
- Railroad Crossings The area's rail history is still visible, with active tracks and vintage depots.
Heritage and traditions
Bluefield and the surrounding Virginias are proud of their coal mining and railroad heritage, their Appalachian mountain culture, and the resilience of their small towns.
This time of year in Bluefield
- Apple butter making Fall Fall gatherings where apple butter is cooked in large kettles.
- Leaf peeping Fall Autumn foliage draws visitors to the mountains.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to
Festivals
- Bluefield Coal & Railroad Festival September Celebrates the region's coal and railroad history with parades, vendors, and exhibits.
- Mercer County Fair July Features agricultural exhibits, rides, and local food.
- Tazewell County Fair August A traditional fair with livestock shows and carnival rides.
- Ramp Festival April Celebrates the wild leek with dinners and music.
- Princeton Street Fair Summer Vendors, crafts, and live music in downtown Princeton.
Landmarks with a story
- Pinnacle Rock State Park A sandstone formation with hiking trails and scenic views.
- Bluefield Coal & Railroad Museum Housed in a former train station, showcases the region's mining and rail history.
- Princeton Railroad Museum Displays railroad artifacts and model trains.
- Bluefield State University Historically black university founded in 1895, now a public university.
- Mercer County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Princeton with distinctive architecture.
- Hatfield-McCoy Trail System A vast network of ATV trails named after the feuding families.
Food traditions
- Pepperoni Rolls Italian miners' lunch, a soft roll with pepperoni inside, popular throughout West Virginia.
- Biscuits and Gravy A hearty breakfast staple from the Appalachian region.
- Ramps Wild leeks foraged in spring, often fried with potatoes or served at ramp dinners.
- Soup Beans and Cornbread A humble meal of pinto beans cooked with ham, served with cornbread and onions.
- Apple Butter Made in large copper kettles during fall gatherings, spread on biscuits.
Music and arts
- Bluegrass and old-time music Rooted in Appalachian folk traditions, with local jam sessions and festivals.
- Coal mining songs and ballads Songs that tell the stories of miners and their struggles.
- Appalachian dulcimer playing A traditional instrument often played in homes and gatherings.
- Quilting and crafts Handmade quilts and crafts are part of the local heritage.
A little history
- 1880s Bluefield was founded as a railroad town along the Norfolk and Western Railway.
- Early 1900s The coal boom brought thousands of miners to the region, shaping its culture.
- 1872 Concord University was established in Athens, West Virginia.
- 1860s-1890s The Hatfield-McCoy feud, though centered on the Tug Fork, is part of the region's lore.
- 1940s The construction of Bluestone Dam created Bluestone Lake.
Rivalries
- Bluefield High vs Princeton High football Annual gridiron clash that splits the county.
- West Virginia Mountaineers vs Virginia Tech Hokies College football rivalry that divides the region.
- Tazewell vs Richlands football Virginia-side rivalry in the mountains.
- Game day High school football
- Game day Bluefield Blue Jays baseball
- Outdoors Ride ATVs on the Hatfield-McCoy trails
- Outdoors Hike to Pinnacle Rock
- With kids Tour the Bluefield Coal & Railroad Museum
- With kids Watch a game at Bowen Field
The local dialect blends Appalachian and Southern features, with a distinctive drawl and vocabulary.
Only here
- Bluefield is known as 'Nature's Air Conditioned City' due to its high elevation and cool summers.
- Bluefield, WV and Bluefield, VA are two separate towns that share the same name and are adjacent.
- The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System is the largest ATV trail network in the eastern United States.
- The Pocahontas Exhibition Mine offers underground tours of a real coal mine.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for cool summers and cold winters; bring layers.
- A car is essential; public transportation is limited.
- Learn to love winding mountain roads.
- Try a pepperoni roll from a local gas station or bakery.
- Embrace the slower pace of life and friendly locals.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaWelchWest VirginiaWhere the mountains hold the stories of coalWythevilleVirginiaWhere the mountains keep their secrets and the music never stops.BeckleyWest VirginiaWhere the hills are steep and the welcome is warmBlacksburg–ChristiansburgVirginiaWhere the mountains meet the Hokie spirit.GalaxVirginiaWhere the mountains sing old-time tunes.High CountryNorth CarolinaHigh in the Blue Ridge, where the New River runs clear.Mount AiryNorth CarolinaWhere Mayberry lives on, with a touch of granite.RoanokeVirginiaWhere the mountains meet the star
Bluefield, WV-VA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.