2011 Map of Cowen

About this map

Cowen serves as the central hub of this West Virginia landscape, where the confluence of numerous creeks and runs dictated the early development of Webster County. The settlement pattern follows the drainages of the Birch River and Laurel Creek, with smaller communities like Welch Glade, Glade View, and Upperglade establishing significant footprints along the valley floors. For genealogists and local historians, the map is a detailed record of family names and rural infrastructure, identifying several burial sites including the McElwain Cemetery, Hoover Cemetery, and Handschumacher Cemetery. The terrain is marked by distinct geographic hollows such as Coal Hollow and Deep Hollow, reflecting the region's industrial ties. Water management is a notable feature of the 21st-century landscape, specifically the Big Ditch Run Structure One Dam located just north of the town center, which shapes the local hydrology alongside natural landmarks like the Otter Hole on the Birch River.