2013 Map of Diana Mills

About this map

Diana Mills and Sunny Side anchor this part of Buckingham County, where the landscape is defined by the winding course of the Slate River and its numerous tributaries. The terrain transitions from the alluvial bottomlands of the James River in the north to the upland ridges that separate small rural communities. The presence of Seven Islands and Gregory Island within the river channel highlights the historical importance of the James as both a navigational hurdle and a geographical boundary. Moving inland, naming patterns like Paynes Mill and Taggart suggest a history centered on local milling and small-scale commerce along historical routes like Bridgeport Rd. Researchers will find a network of secondary roads connecting established locales such as Well Water and Slate Hill, illustrating the enduring settlement patterns of central Virginia's Piedmont region.