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1968 Map of Cripple Creek

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Cripple Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

Iron industry remnants define the valley of Cripple Creek in this late-1960s survey of southern Wythe County. The landscape preserves the footprint of a once-thriving charcoal furnace economy, evidenced by the scattered remains of Eagle Furnace, Raven Cliff Furnace, and Noble Furnace. These industrial sites are linked by an Old Railroad Grade that winds through the terrain, tracing the old transport routes that served the various mines and quarries dotting the hillsides at Fry Hill and Hussy Mtn.

Small mountain settlements and rural congregations anchor the upland hollows, including Huddle, Shiloh, and Henley. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the dense canopy of the Jefferson National Forest, where the Iron Mountains rise steeply. Prominent natural features like Gleaves Knob and Devils Den overlook the valley, while local spiritual life is marked by numerous country churches such as Bethany Ch and the Brush Creek Mission.