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2011 Map of Belle

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Belle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

The Kanawha River serves as the industrial and transport corridor for this region south of Charleston, where the settlements of Marmet, Belle, and Chesapeake line the riverbanks. The landscape is defined by its numerous narrow valleys, locally known as hollows, such as Bradford Hollow and Wolfpen Hollow, which branch away from the main river valley. This settlement pattern reflects the traditional Appalachian development where homes and roads, like Fields Creek Rd, follow the flat bottoms of these drainages between steep ridges.

Genealogists will find a significant density of family and community burial grounds tucked into these hollows, including the Snodgrass Cemetery, Wrightsville Cemetery, and Massey Cemetery. Notable landmarks of the early 21st century include the Bee Mountain Lookout Tower and the Island Airport near Scotts Island. Further south, the map details smaller communities like Winifrede, Maxine, and Comfort, illustrating the persistent rural character of Kanawha County away from the primary river towns.