1957 Map of Blue Creek

About this map

The Elk River serves as the industrial and logistical spine of this region, winding through a landscape defined by extractive energy and narrow valley settlements. By the mid-20th century, the area around Elkview and Blue Creek had become a dense network of petroleum infrastructure, with hundreds of Oil Wells peppered across the ridgelines and a prominent Oil Refinery situated near Falling Rock. Transportation follows the water, with the Baltimore and Ohio and Conrail rail lines hugging the riverbanks to serve the local industry.