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1957 Map of Elizabeth

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Elizabeth
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Little Kanawha River winds through the heart of Wirt County, anchoring the town of Elizabeth and the nearby village of Palestine. This mid-century survey documents a landscape defined by its river-and-ridge geography, where narrow valleys like Two Ripple Run and Tucker Creek host small communities and rural schools. Of particular interest are the Lock & Dam 4 (Ruins), indicating the older navigational history of the river, and the Palestine State Fish Hatchery located just south of the main bend.

The map records numerous country churches and cemeteries, such as Slate Cem Ch and Antioch Ch, which serve as vital markers for local genealogists. Evidence of the region's resource extraction appears in the form of the Slate Pipeline and scattered oil wells, while recreational spaces like Camp Sandy Bend and Camp Barbe represent a different use of the riverbanks. The intricate network of ridges, including Courtney Ridge, shows how topography dictated the placement of early routes and homesteads.