2023 Map of Belmont

About this map

The Little Muskingum River meanders through a landscape defined by deep ridges and hollows, connecting small communities such as Dart, Fay, and Gracey. This area, heavily forested within the Wayne National Forest, shows a pattern of dispersed settlement and small cemeteries that speak to the local genealogy and heritage of Washington County. Family-named landmarks like Ludwig Cem and Rake Cem are scattered along the hillsides of Bean Ridge and Pine Ridge, while larger valley settlements like Belmont and Newell Run anchor the southern edge of the survey near the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The map details the transition from the river bottomlands, featuring Broadback Island and First Brother Island, to the upland drainages of Eightmile Creek and Cow Run, reflecting a rural Ohio River Valley character that remains largely focused on its geography and small-town roots.