1912 Map of Bald Knob

About this map

Coal River and its myriad tributaries define this 1912 landscape in southern West Virginia, where the boundaries of Boone, Raleigh, Logan, and Wyoming counties converge. This era shows the early expansion of the C. and O. R. R. into the coal-rich interior, following the narrow valleys of Pond Fork and Marsh Fork. Settlements such as Whitesville, Gordon, and Jarrolds Valley serve as focal points along these water and rail corridors. The terrain is dominated by high ridges, including Cherry Pond Mountain and Bald Knob Mountain, which reach heights like Bald Knob. Local history details include family-named features and rural landmarks such as Jarrolds Field and the isolated settlement at Hecla, providing a clear view of the pre-industrial topography before extensive surface mining altered many of these ridges.