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1932 Map of Flattop

Name: 1932 Topographic Map of Flattop
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

The Virginian railroad cuts through the heavy terrain of the West Virginia coalfields, serving a network of small mining communities and timber towns during the late 1920s. Settlements such as Craborchard, Affinity, and Lillybrook are clustered along the narrow creek valleys like Winding Gulf and Tommy Creek, where industrial activity and residential life were dictated by the local topography. The presence of Blue Jay Mine No 7 near Cherry Glade highlights the area's economic reliance on resource extraction during this period.

A dense distribution of small rural schools, including the Chestnut Ridge School, Low Gap School, and Bluestone View School, suggests a dispersed mountain population that relied on local community hubs. Prominent ridges such as White Oak Mountain and Flattop Mountain create significant natural barriers, influencing the path of U.S. Route 19 21 and the development of crossroads like Ghent and Shady Spring.