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1932 Map of Flattop

Name: 1932 Topographic Map of Flattop
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1932
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1932

About this map

Shady Spring Mountain and the Whiteoak Mountain ridge dominate this Southern West Virginia landscape during the early 1930s. The coal and timber economies are evident in the dense network of small company towns and loading points like Besoco, Pickshin, and Lillybrook along the Virginian RR. While the western portion of the map is defined by industrial activity and the winding waters of Winding Gulf, the eastern sections transition into more traditional rural settlements.

Remote family-named ridges like Thompson Ridge and Stanton Take-in Ridge separate the valleys, creating a geography where local life centered on small country institutions. Schools such as Williams School and Midway School are scattered frequently across the terrain, serving the scattered populations of Ghent, Flattop, and Cool Ridge. This survey captures the complex social geography where industrial extraction meets the long-standing ridge-top communities of the Appalachians.