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1962 Map of Clifton Forge

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Clifton Forge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Clifton Forge serves as the industrial and transportation hub of this mountain landscape, centered on the confluence of the Jackson River and Smith Creek. The town's layout is defined by the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad corridor, which parallels the river and supports surrounding communities like Selma and Iron Gate. Institutional landmarks such as Clifton Forge High Sch and the Booker T Washington Sch reflect the civic development of the era, while the presence of Dabney S Lancaster Community College indicates the region's expanding educational role in the 1960s.

Beyond the urban centers, the map documents the area's transition into the George Washington National Forest and the Patch Mountains. Significant local history is preserved in sites like the Calle Furnace (Ruins) near Glen Wilton, pointing to the region's earlier iron industry. Rural life is anchored by numerous country churches and graveyards, including Locust Bottom Ch and Oakland Ch Cem, situated near the bends of the James River and Cowpasture River.