On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Bluewell is more historic than 35% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Bluewell’s overall grade.
West Virginia towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical West Virginia town has 29.6 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Bluewell’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (17% of West Virginia towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±9.0 points).
Founding year: our sources. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Bluewell’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Bluewell. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1911Pocahontas Special sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Bluewell.
The story so far
Bluewell, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Bluewell yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Bluewell, West Virginia is an unincorporated census-designated place on U.S. Route 52 in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population is 2,162 (slightly down from 2,184 at the 2010 census). It is the terminus of West Virginia Route 20. The community has no post office, its residences being a part of Bluefield for postal purposes. Its name is derived from being halfway between Bluefield and Bramwell. The community is adjacent to Pinnacle Rock State Park. It has become an active spot for Pocahontas Trail ATV riders of the Hatfield-Mcoy Trail system with many business catering to them.
Its population held steady between the last two censuses: 2,184 in 2010, 2,162 in 2020.
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Questions about Bluewell’s history
How does Bluewell rank for history?
Bluewell is more historic than 35% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Bluewell?
16% of Bluewell’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±9.0 points), against a typical 13% for a West Virginia town; the median home was built in 1974.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (2), the Library of Congress (1), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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