1938 Map of Bristol

About this map

The twin border cities of Bristol anchor this late 1930s landscape, where the state line divides Tennessee and Virginia through the heart of the downtown commercial district. Educational institutions figure prominently in the city's character, with Sullins College, Virginia Intermont College, and King College serving as major local landmarks. The transportation network is dominated by the Southern and Norfolk and Western railroads, which supported a diverse economy of commerce and extraction, including a Barite mine to the northeast and the Beidleman Mill near the South Holston River. Beyond the urban core, the terrain is defined by the steep ridges of the Knobs and Paperville Knobs. Numerous rural institutions such as Fairmont Ch and Haynesfield Sch are scattered throughout the surrounding valleys of Beaver Creek and Whittlow Creek.