2016 Map of Big Chimney

About this map

Big Chimney and the surrounding river communities along the Elk River define this 2016 study of Kanawha County. The landscape is marked by steep valleys and narrow hollows, where settlements like Milliken, Bream, and Sandy cling to the riverbanks and highway corridors. The presence of the Elk River Rail-Trail following the northern bank reflects the regional transition from industrial rail use to recreational corridors, while the expansive footprint of Yeager Airport occupies the high ground to the south. Local history is deeply embedded in the terrain through numerous family and community burial sites, including the Burdette Walker Cem, Rock Memorial Cem, and Cavender Cem. The mapping also documents significant infrastructure serving the modern population, such as the New Big Chimney Bridge and the Little Sandy Creek Bridge, which connect the disparate ridges and hollows of the Appalachian Plateau.