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2022 Map of Big Island

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of Big Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

The James River carves a deep valley along the boundary of Amherst and Bedford counties, serving as the topographical anchor for this Central Virginia landscape. The river corridor is flanked by the George Washington National Forest to the north and the Jefferson National Forest to the south, with the Blue Ridge Parkway winding along the high ridges. This survey illustrates a rural mountain economy where small communities like Big Island and Pedlar Mills are connected by winding historic routes such as the Buffalo Springs Tpke and Waughs Ferry Rd.

Genealogists may find value in the location of Ivy Hill Cem and the proximity of scattered settlements like Naola, Waugh, and Pera. The convergence of the Pedlar River and James River highlights the importance of waterway gaps in navigating the Blue Ridge terrain, while landmarks like Hamilton Knob and Miners Mtn provide fixed points for tracing land tracts and historical migration paths through these mountain passes.