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2016 Map of Clifton Forge

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Clifton Forge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Clifton Forge sits at a strategic mountain gap where the Jackson River passes through the valley, surrounded by the extensive George Washington National Forest. The local geography is defined by the steep ridges of the Rich Patch Mountains and Fore Mtn, which funnel development into narrow corridors along the river and rail lines. This concentration of settlement is visible in the string of communities including Fairview Heights, Selma, and Low Moor.

Several historic burial grounds, such as Oakland Grove Presbyterian Cem and Crown Hill Cem, are located near the population centers, while the Clifton Forge Reservoir and Robert F Craft Memorial Bridge serve as critical infrastructure landmarks. Further south, the confluence of the Jackson River and Cowpasture River forms the James River at Iron Gate, a significant hydrological juncture that historically dictated the movement of goods and people through this part of Alleghany County.