1955 Map of Bluefield

About this map

Peters Mountain and East River Mountain dominate this mid-century portrait of the Central Appalachians, where the rugged border between Virginia and West Virginia is defined by parallel ridges and the winding course of the New River. The industrial and transportation hubs of Bluefield and Princeton anchor the regional economy, supported by the critical rail corridors of the Norfolk and Western Ry and Chesapeake and Ohio Ry. To the north, the recently formed Bluestone Reservoir alters the hydrology of the landscape near Hinton. The presence of the New River Ordnance Plant near Radford reflects the era's lingering military industrial footprint. In the southwest, the unique circular geological depression of Burkes Garden provides a striking contrast to the long mountain chains like Walker Mountain and Clinch Mountain that hem in the fertile valleys.