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1957 Map of Clendenin

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Clendenin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Elk River winds sharply through Kanawha and Clay counties, anchoring a landscape where river-bottom rail lines meet steep Appalachian ridges. During the mid-20th century, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad corridor served as the industrial spine for settlements like Clendenin, Corton, and Queen Shoals. While the riverbanks supported transportation and utility infrastructure—evidenced by the Gaging Sta and numerous gas wells—the interior ridges remained dotted with rural institutions.

Local life centered on family-named landmarks and small-scale community hubs like Reamer (Sybial PO) and Turner. Genealogists will find a wealth of specific sites, from the Dutch Ridge Chapel and Youngs Memorial Chapel to numerous schools such as Eds Fork Sch and Cold Spring Sch. The map also documents the transition of land use, showing both traditional cemeteries like Osborne Cem and the emergence of industrial activity at the Strip Mine sites near the Clay County line.