A look into West Virginia’s lemonade city

Last updated: July 16, 2024

There’s no mistaking Bluefield. Thanks to its boomtown past and high altitude, “Nature’s Air-Conditioned City” is distinctively quirky. Case in point: free summer lemonade— if certain conditions are met.

Here’s how Bluefield became known for its citrusy celebrations.

Quick from the start

It’s not known for being shy. Though numbers and conditions fluctuate, Mercer County’s biggest city has loomed large for more than a century.

Bluefield got its start from coal. But unlike other West Virginia settlements, it had something special: the world’s largest bituminous deposit. Once mining began in earnest, the city started to bustle. Miners, communities and train yards brought momentum to the valley during the late 1800s. Even the mighty Norfolk and Western Railway based its local headquarters in town.

The coolest city in West Virginia

It wasn’t long before Bluefield dominated the region. For a time, residents had more cars per capita than anywhere else. Visitors noted distinctive traits, like impressive traffic jams and a bustling nightlife.

The city was also one of the first in America to have a skyline, prompting folks to dub it “Little New York.” In fact, one of the world’s tallest buildings— for a while— was the 12-story West Virginian hotel, a Renaissance Revival skyscraper. Now an apartment building, it still stands tall. Today, you’d have to go to Charleston before finding something higher.

Bluefield also changed with the times. Soon, people devised a new nickname for their beloved home: “Nature’s Air-Conditioned City.” The moniker is accurate. At 2,611 feet above sea level, Bluefield gets unusually cool summers. Temperatures rarely hit 90 degrees— a characteristic worthy of celebration. In fact, that’s what happened.

Who wants lemonade?

In 1939, Bluefield Chamber of Commerce manager “Eddie” Steele had a novel idea. Since the city had such mild summers, why not stir up some fun? He proposed offering free lemonade if weather reached 90 degrees or more. To make things official, temperatures would be recorded by Mercer County Airport.

Still, nature didn’t cooperate until 1941— the official start of Bluefield’s partnership with lemonade. It was a hit from the start. The chamber of commerce ladled free drinks, as did “lemonade lassies” and businesses throughout Bluefield.

Then— as now— anticipation makes things even more fun. You never know when drinks will appear! Bluefield’s lemonade days are truly fickle, too. Case in point: there was only one 90-degree day between 1960 and 1982. On the other hand, some years are much more thirsty. The standing record is 2007, when locals enjoyed 18 days of lemonade. Follow by a 90+ degree day in 2013 and 2019.  The latest 90 degree weather day was July 15, 2024.