1977 Map of Blue Creek

About this map

The Elk River winds through the narrow valleys of Kanawha County in this late-1970s orthophotoquad, where the landscape is defined by the steep ridges and tight bends of the river. Small settlements like Blue Creek and Youngs Bottom are situated on the limited level ground along the riverbanks, illustrating the historic settlement patterns dictated by the Appalachian terrain. The imagery captures the area before modern developments significantly altered the traditional footprints of communities such as Falling Rock and Coco. By utilizing rectified aerial photography, this survey provides a rare, clear view of the dense vegetation and the winding roads that follow the contours of Three Mile and other local drainages, offering a precise look at the rural West Virginia landscape during this era.