2016 Map of Caney Ridge

About this map

Darwin and the surrounding coal-country settlements of McClure and Leck characterize this 2016 survey along the border of Dickenson and Wise counties. The landscape is defined by its deep ridges and hollows, such as Cherrytree Hollow and Deadman Hollow, which have historically dictated the placement of roads and family homesteads. The transport of natural resources is evident through the presence of the Caney Tunnel and Bearpen Gap Tunnel, infrastructure built to navigate the steep topography of Caney Ridge. Numerous family burial grounds, including the Hibbitts and Salyers cemeteries, are scattered across the terrain near Cranes Nest River, providing a significant record of the local genealogy. The map also features the Caney Ridge Airport, highlighting the modern accessibility of this otherwise steeply partitioned region of the Appalachian Plateau.