1957 Map of Clendenin

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.