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1929 Map of Flattop

Name: 1929 Topographic Map of Flattop
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The Virginian Ry carves through the narrow valleys of southern West Virginia in this 1920s survey, connecting coal-rich settlements like Winding Gulf and Besoco. This era captures the height of the mountain extraction economy, where operations like Blue Jay Mine No 7 at Cherry Glade and the specialized Lumber RR define the landscape's utility. The settlement pattern is characterized by small, family-centric school districts serving tight-knit hollows, evidenced by the high density of rural institutions such as Chestnut Ridge School, Low Gap School, and the Suck School.

Away from the rail lines, the terrain rises toward Flattop Mountain and White Oak Mountain, where place names like Indian Grave Mtn and Panther Knob suggest a long history of local lore. Social life centers on rural nodes such as Vine Chapel and the community at Ghent. This map serves as a vital record for genealogists, preserving the location of dozens of community landmarks and small manufacturing sites like the Spangler Factory before mid-century modernization altered the rural geography.