1938 Map of Hayters Gap

About this map

Clinch Mountain and Poor Mountain dominate the northern terrain of this Southwest Virginia landscape, which transitions into the fertile Rich Valley. Settled life in the mid-20th century centered on the North Fork Holston River and its tributaries, where the Norfolk and Western Railway followed the river's bend. Family lineage is deeply etched into the land through sites like Thompson Cem and Wolf Cem, while local industry and education are represented by Giesley Mill and several rural schools, including Maiden Falls Sch and River Bend Sch. The map reveals a high density of country churches such as McCray Chapel and Bethany Ch, which served the scattered communities of Lindell and Glenford. This survey, photorevised in the late 1960s, documents the persisting rural structure of Washington County before modern infrastructure reshaped the valley's character.