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1967 Map of Elkhurst

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Elkhurst
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Elk River winds in dramatic meanders through this portion of Clay and Kanawha counties, carving deep bends like the horseshoe-shaped Jack Bend at Dorfee. The landscape is dominated by the extraction economy of the late 1960s, evidenced by the numerous Gas Wells and Oil Wells peppered across the hillsides from Henry to Union. Transportation and commerce are tied closely to the river valley, where the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad tracks parallel the water, serving settlements like Elkhurst, Procious, and Bomont.

Community life centers on a network of small upland churches and schools, such as Mt Carmel Ch, Liberty Ch, and the Mt Zion Sch. These institutions, often named for the peaks they occupy like Blue Knob Ch near Blue Knob, reflect the traditional ridge-and-hollow settlement patterns of West Virginia. Industry extends into the southern reaches with a prominent Strip Mine located near Spruce Low Gap, marking the transition into the coal-producing regions.