1966 Map of Ivydale

About this map

The Elk River winds through the southern portion of this West Virginia landscape, providing a vital corridor for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and established riverfront communities. Small settlements like Ivydale, Gould, and Little Italy dot the valley floor, while numerous gas and oil wells suggest a landscape defined by resource extraction. Away from the river, the terrain rises into a series of ridges and hollows, where life centered around landmarks like White Pilgrim Ch and the Otterlick Community. The topography is marked by distinct summits such as Velvet Knob and Pilot Knob, while narrow waterways like Big Sandy Creek and Otter Creek carve deep into the hills. Transportation patterns are seen evolving through the mid-1970s with the construction of Interstate 79, which cuts a modern path across the traditional creek-side settlements of Dink and Otterville.