2016 Map of Buchanan

About this map

The town of Buchanan sits at a critical junction of the James River and the eastern ridges of the Appalachian range, where the river winds through The Gorge. This mid-2010s survey details the local infrastructure supporting this historic river crossing, including the Springwood Truss Bridge to the west near Springwood. The landscape is dominated by the ridges of Purgatory Mtn and Cove Mtn, much of which is preserved within the Jefferson National Forest. Local family and community history is preserved in several scattered burial grounds, such as Fairview Cem and Mays Cem. The map illustrates a complex network of mountain gaps, including Cartmell Gap and Cherry Orchard Gap, which have historically dictated travel and settlement patterns between the ridges of Back Creek Mtn and the Short Hills.