Loading map...

2023 Map of Gassaway

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Gassaway
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The Elk River winds through the center of this Braxton County landscape, anchoring a network of narrow valleys and ridges that define the region's settlement patterns. Along the river's southern bend, the communities of Gassaway and Shadyside serve as local hubs, while smaller hamlets like Frametown and Little Otter are tucked into the drainages of numerous tributaries. The terrain is marked by family-named landmarks and upland peaks such as Sugar Knob, reflecting a history of rural kinship and isolated homesteads.

Genealogists will find a wealth of burial sites scattered across the ridges and hollows, including the New Fairview Cem, Stumble Run Cem, and Bealls Mill Cem. The transport network relies on a complex system of local connectors like Buffalo Creek Rd and Co Rte 12, which follow the natural contours of the land. This survey illustrates the persistent rural character of central West Virginia, where small-scale farming and timbering historically shaped the landscape around features like Wolfpen Run and Rush Fork.