1968 Map of Apple Grove

About this map

The Ohio River forms the central spine of this landscape, dividing Gallia and Mason counties and the states of Ohio and West Virginia. In the late 1960s, the river economy is anchored by the Gallipolis Lock and Dam and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad corridor running along the eastern bank. The West Virginia side shows a pattern of river-bottom settlements like Apple Grove and Mercers Bottom nestled below the rising slopes of the Clendenin district. To the west, the deeply dissected hills of the Wayne National Forest are punctuated by small rural centers such as Thivenor. This survey captures a specific social geography through its numerous small congregations and institutions, including Clay Chapel School, Beale Chapel, and St. Nicholas Church, reflecting the dispersed but connected communities that defined this river valley before modern infrastructure shifts.