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1967 Map of Clay

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Clay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Elk River winds sharply through this rugged West Virginia landscape, creating dramatic loops such as Eagle Bend and Spread Bend. The town of Clay serves as a focal point, situated at a major bend in the river near Dundon and the Clay Junction. The regional economy of the late 1960s is clearly etched into the terrain, characterized by a heavy presence of gas wells scattered across the ridges and strip mines operating to the south near Bickmore.

Transportation follows the narrow valley floors, with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad tracking the river and Buffalo Creek. Rural life is marked by numerous small cemeteries and the Buffalo Valley Ch near Triplett. From the heights of Chestnut Knob to the depths of Devils Den Branch, the map documents the intricate relationship between the extractive industries and the steep Appalachian topography during a period of active resource development.