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1961 Map of Buchanan

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Buchanan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The James River carves a dramatic series of horseshoe bends through the heart of this Botetourt County landscape, including the sharp turn at Dillon. This 1961 survey, updated with 1972 aerial photography, documents the industrial and transport infrastructure of Buchanan, where the Chesapeake and Ohio and Norfolk and Western railroads converge along the riverbanks. The town is anchored by local landmarks like the Fairview Cemetery and the Assembly of God Ch.

Beyond the river valley, the terrain is defined by the steep rises of Purgatory Mountain and Mays Mountain, with the Purgatory Lookout Tower marking a high point. Notable local history sites include Saltpetre Cave and various family-named features like Ponton Cem and Shafer Cem. The Appalachian Trail winds through the Cove Mountain area in the southeast, while the James River High Sch serves the communities of Springwood and Indian Rock.