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1969 Map of Ansted

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Ansted
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Gauley River carves a dramatic, winding path through this region of the West Virginia coalfields, defining the boundaries between Jefferson and New Haven districts. The landscape is marked by the industrial footprints of the era, from numerous Strip Mine operations to the heavy rail presence of the Conrail and Chesapeake And Ohio lines. The settlement of Ansted sits in the southern portion of the sheet, serving as a focal point near the recreation grounds of Hawks Nest State Park.

Rural life is preserved through a network of small communities and houses of worship like Arnette Chapel and Mt Zion Ch, often connected by historic routes such as Saturday Road. From the heights of Gauley Mountain, where the Gauley Mtn Lookout Tower once stood, the map reveals a rugged terrain of steep ridges and deep branches like Rich Creek and Laurel Creek. This survey captures the mid-century transition as the extractive economy shaped the local geography of Fayette Co and Nicholas Co.