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1959 Map of Cuzzart

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Cuzzart
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The Pleasant Mountains form a significant backdrop for this 1950s study of rural Preston County, where small agricultural and mining communities are linked by the Brandonville Turnpike. The map captures the social infrastructure of the time through a high concentration of small rural schools and churches, such as Lick Run Sch, Mountain View Sch, and Centenary Ch. These landmarks, along with family-named sites like Parnell Cem, provide a precise record of local genealogy and settlement patterns.

Industrial activity is evident through numerous strip mines and a Quarry scattered among the drainages of Beaver Creek and Muddy Creek. The landscape transition from the higher elevations of Kelley Knob and Pine Swamp Knob down into the valleys reveals a pattern of dispersed homesteads and small hamlets like Cuzzart, Lenox, and Afton, reflecting the traditional Appalachian mountain economy prior to modern consolidation.