1966 Map of Jordan Mines

About this map

Potts Creek carves a deep valley through the rugged heart of the George Washington National Forest and Jefferson National Forest, anchoring a landscape defined by isolated settlements and a legacy of mountain industry. In the mid-1960s, the village of Jordan Mines remained a central point in this mountain corridor, while the southern settlement of Lignite points to the region's mineral heritage. The map documents an intricate network of local spirituality, featuring numerous remote houses of worship such as Wet Grounds Ch, Highland Chapel, and Perkinger Memorial Chapel. Topographical features like Moores Bottom and the curious geological formation at The Sinks highlight the varied terrain where high ridges like Peters Mountain and Rich Patch Mountain flank narrow creek bottoms. An Old RR Grade and several Jeep Trails suggest a history of extraction and timbering that once connected these hollows.