Meadow Bridge, West Virginia
From West Virginia (WV) Cyclopedia
Meadow Bridge, WV, (2000 pop. 321) was incorporated in 1920 at a bridge over Meadow Creek in southeastern Fayette County. An important Native American and pre-Revolutionary-Era trail ran east-to-west through the town, and several Indian settlements occupied the site.
Weather: Meadow Bridge, WV (http://www.wvwebsites.com/cgi-bin/weather/hamweather.cgi?user=default&theme=default&forecast=zandh&state=wv&place=Meadow%20Bridge)
Lodging: Meadow Bridge, WV, Hotels (http://www.reservetravel.com/v4/redir.aspx?type=geo&rad=15&lbl=Meadow%20Bridge_WV&lat=37.8589&lon=-80.8544&siteid=7790)
Meadow Bridge is located in a small, beautiful upland valley known since settlement as the Little Meadows, located six-miles west of the Big Meadows (source of the Meadow River). Low, wooded hills and knobs surround Meadow Bridge and the Little Meadows on all sides. The Meadow River Lumber Company timbered the Meadow Bridge region in the early 1800s and maintained a rail line through the town connecting its mill at Rainelle, WV, with the mainline of the C&O Railroad at New River.
Meadow Bridge is among the smallest municipalities in Fayette County, but at 2,427 feet above sea level, is its loftiest municipality. As a result of its altitude, snows here are relatively heavy. The town lies just east of Sewell Mountain and just north of the national park service boundary of the New River Gorge National River, southern West Virginia's largest tourist attraction.
Development
Meadow Bridge is the service, commercial, and residential center of a small area of rolling farmland and tableland farms. The rural area is considered exceptionally beautiful, though Meadow Bridge itself suffers from tree topping, poor development, which has lessened the value of property therein and nearby. Its oldest buildings have yet to be restored, though Meadow Bridge is a good candidate for restoration that could increase the region's economic viability.
On W.Va. 20 and the verge of national parklands, tourism will likely become a viable economic concern if community leaders work toward improving the town's visual landscape.
Elevation: 2427 feet
Population: 321 (2000 Census)
Longitude: -80.8544
Latitude: 37.8589
Schools: Fayette County Schools (http://boe.faye.k12.wv.us/)
Libraries: Meadow Bridge Public Library (http://meadowbridge.lib.wv.us/) -- Fayette County Public Library (http://fayette.lib.wv.us/)
Top map (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=37.8589&lon=-80.8544) of Meadow Bridge, WV and vicinity
New River Gorge Directory: Meadow Bridge (http://www.newriverwv.com/Society_and_Community_Cities_and_Towns_Meadow_Bridge.php)
See also: Meadow Bridge Drive-In (http://www.mbdrivein.com/)
Established in 1954, the Meadow Bridge Drive-In is one of six open-air movie theaters still operating in West Virginia. The drive-in accommodates 180 vehicles and is open Memorial Day through the end of September.
Variant Name(s) for Meadow Bridge, WV
Clute, Meadowbridge
