1963 Map of Harman

About this map

The Levisa Fork carves a deep path through the heart of Buchanan County, Virginia, and Pike County, Kentucky, dictating the development of the region's coal-driven economy. In the early 1960s, the Norfolk and Western railroad tracks followed the river's winding curves, connecting mountain settlements like Big Rock, Weller, and Harman Junction. The landscape is defined by its industrial activity, with numerous Strip Mines and gaging stations supporting the extraction and transport of mineral wealth. Evidence of established local communities is found in the many small schools and churches, such as Home Creek Sch and Looney Creek Ch. These labels, alongside family-named landmarks like Caney Island Br and Elijah Branch, reveal a dense network of mountain life clustered in the narrow valleys and hollows between high ridges like Conaway Gap and Hoot Owl Gap.