1958 Map of Duty

About this map

Long Ridge and Sandy Ridge dominate the landscape of this southwestern Virginia quadrangle, where the borders of Buchanan, Dickenson, and Russell Counties meet. In the late 1950s, the region's economy is clearly defined by coal extraction and timber, most notably at the Moss No 3 Mine and various Strip mine sites. This industrial presence contrasts with the numerous family cemeteries and small rural institutions that dot the hollows, such as the Sutherland Cemetery and Sullivan Branch School. Settlements like Tiny, Bee, and Davenport are tucked along the winding waterways of Fryingpan Creek and Indian Creek. The map records a complex network of ridgeline gaps, including Abner Gap and Spruce Pine Gap, which historically dictated the movement of people and resources before the expansion of modern infrastructure like the industrial Conveyor system shown near the mine.