1929 Map of Big Stone Gap

About this map

Big Stone Gap sits at the convergence of the Powell River and South Fork at the base of Little Stone Mountain, serving as a central hub in this 1920s Appalachian landscape. The terrain is defined by the massive spine of Black Mountain and Stone Mountain, where narrow hollows like Possum Trot Hollow and Roaring Fork house industrial coal settlements and rail spurs. The Southern Ry and Louisville & Nashville R R wind through these gaps, connecting towns such as Appalachia, Stonega, and Lynch. Local life in the early 20th century is evident through the scattered rural infrastructure, including Johnsons Mill P O, Robbins Chapel, and schools like the Seminary School and Blair School. These details reveal a society organized around both the river valleys and the resource-rich ridges during a period of intense mining and rail development.