1917 Map of Hurley

About this map

Grundy and the surrounding mountain ridges of Buchanan County are captured here during a period of transition for Central Appalachia. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of narrow hollows and deep creek valleys, where isolated mountain schools like Linn Camp School and Looney Creek School served dispersed timber and coal communities. Along the northern edge, the Sandy River and Elkhorn RR provided a vital connection through the rugged terrain, passing through Middle Elk Station. This 1917 survey reflects the region's reliance on post offices like Pawpaw and Kelsa as centers of local life. The map's detailed hydrology, including the Levisa Fork and Slate Creek, illustrates the drainage patterns that dictated the placement of settlements like Hurley and Big Rock long before modern highways reached these steep ridges.