1977 Map of Cedar Grove

About this map

The Kanawha River carves a deep, winding path through the West Virginia landscape, anchoring the industrial and residential development of this river valley in the late 1970s. This orthophotoquad, produced from 1977 aerial imagery, reveals the dense vegetation and narrow hollows characteristic of the region, where settlements like Cedar Grove and Chelyan cling to the flat benches of land along the water. The intricate network of ridgelines and drainage basins is clearly visible, showing how the topography has dictated the placement of roads and towns. Smaller communities such as Dry Branch and Miami are tucked into the valleys of Cabin Creek and Paint Creek, demonstrating the traditional pattern of Appalachian settlement following the watercourses into the interior. At Hugheston, the proximity of industrial activity to the river highlights the importance of the Kanawha as a primary transportation artery for the state's natural resources.