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1926 Map of Bluefield

Name: 1926 Topographic Map of Bluefield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1926
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1926

About this map

The Bluestone River and its numerous tributaries carve through the heart of Mercer County in the mid-1920s, a period when the local economy was anchored by heavy rail and mountain agriculture. The corridor between Bluefield and Princeton shows a dense network of country schools like the Stinson School and Cedar Cliff School, reflecting a settled rural population before the consolidation of the late 20th century. The presence of the Norfolk and Western Ry and the Virginian RR, along with specialized infrastructure like the Lumber RR, underscores the region's role in the timber and coal trade.

Distinctive local landmarks such as Mercer Healing Springs and Ends Mill point to early recreational and industrial hubs, while the steep ridgelines of East River Mountain and Black Oak Ridge define the physical limits of expansion. For the genealogist, dozens of named schoolhouses and small settlements like Lashmeet, Wenonah, and Ingleside provide precise locations for family homesites during this era of West Virginia history.