Loading map...

1969 Map of Beckley

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Beckley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The growing coal and transportation hub of Beckley anchors this 1969 survey, reflecting the complex landscape of late-twentieth-century Raleigh County. The city center is dense with institutions like Beckley College, the VA Hospital, and the Woodrow Wilson High School, while the surrounding hills are marked by the extensive footprint of the extractive industry. Numerous strip mines dominate the terrain to the east toward Stanaford and Lanark, contrasted by established residential communities and landmarks like the Exhibition Mine.

The area's connectivity is defined by the West Virginia Toll Road and the rail infrastructure supporting the mines, including the Stanaford Station. Beyond the urban core, smaller settlements such as Bradley, Prosperity, and Mabscott are mapped alongside local landmarks like the Black Knight Golf Course and the Appalachian Bible Institute. The map captures a moment when traditional resource extraction and modern suburban development were intricately layered across the Appalachian plateau.