1968 Map of Crab Orchard

About this map

Guyandotte Mountain and the surrounding ridges of the Shady Spring District define this 1968 landscape, where West Virginia's coal and rail economies intersect. The map illustrates a dense network of mountain settlements and industrial sites, including Coal City, Pemberton, and Winding Gulf, many of which were built around active extraction as evidenced by the numerous strip mines and mines tipping operations. Transportation is dominated by the Norfolk and Western and C & O railroads that wind through the valleys of Piney Creek and Beaver Creek. Amidst the industrial terrain, local life is anchored by institutions like Stoco High Sch and Hill Top Ch, while the West Virginia Turnpike cuts across the northern ridges near the Tilden community.