2016 Map of Branchland

About this map

The Guyandotte River carves a deep path through Lincoln County, serving as the central artery for a series of communities including Branchland, Midkiff, and Hubball. The geography is defined by a dense network of hollows and ridges, such as Stone Coal Hollow and McComas Ridge, where settlement patterns closely follow the winding creek beds and riverbanks. This 2016 survey illustrates the persistent rural character of the region, where family and community heritage is anchored by dozens of small burial grounds like Cartwright Cem and McCallister Cem. The landscape is a maze of local connectors such as Ten Mile Creek Rd and Riverview Ave, which link isolated points like Flag Knob and Bear Knob to the river corridor. This map provides a detailed view of the small-scale settlement patterns typical of the Appalachian plateau, documenting the location of schools, churches, and historic homesteads often missed in broader surveys.