2013 Map of Jewell Ridge

About this map

Jewell Ridge and the surrounding plateau of Tazewell County are defined by a complex network of hollows and ridges that once dictated the development of the region's coal industry. Settlements such as Coaldan, Seaboard, and Afredton are concentrated along the narrow valley floors, connected by winding mountain roads like Va-620 and Va-621. The topography is a maze of named geographic features, from the heights of Sugar Cove Mountain and Stone Cove Ridge to the deep recesses of Sam King Hollow and Wildcat Hollow. Significant watercourses including Dismal Cr, Laurel Fork, and Big Cr carve through the landscape, providing the drainage for this dissected upland. The mapping detail includes a Bearwallow Lookout Tower overlooking Bearwallow Br, highlighting the era's fire watch infrastructure. This survey documents the specific arrangement of Appalachian coal towns and family-named landmarks like Stinson Ridge and Reynolds Ridge before the further modern consolidation of these rural communities.