1914 Map of Flattop

About this map

Shady Spring Mountain and a network of high ridges dominate this 1914 survey of southern West Virginia, illustrating a landscape shaped by coal-era expansion and early industry. The industrial footprint is evident in the northwestern corner where the Virginian RR and C & O R R snake through deep valleys to serve settlements like Winding Gulf and Pemberton. A rare industrial marker, the Spangler Factory, sits near Fitzpatrick, while rural life is anchored by an exceptionally high density of neighborhood schools, including the Chestnut Ridge School, Brammer School, and Billy Mills School. The topography is defined by prominent peaks such as Huff Knob and Indian Grave Mtn, with many smaller communities like Ghent and Flattop established along the flatter ridge-top glades rather than the steep-walled river hollows of the Guyan River.