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1961 Map of Latham

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Latham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Sunfish Creek meanders through this portion of the Virginia Military District, defining a landscape of sharp ridges and narrow hollows. In the early 1960s, the rural character of Pike County is evident in the scattered settlements of Latham and Idaho, where local life centered around small country institutions like the Township Sch and the Parker Sch. The terrain is heavily marked by family-named landmarks and historical burial grounds, including the Gardner Cem, Arkoe Cem, and Smith Hill Ch Cem, which offer significant data points for genealogical research.

Conservation areas such as Pike State Forest and Brush Creek State Forest cover the high ground of Green Ridge and Benton Ridge. Transportation relies on local crossings like Wilson Bridge and Red Bridge, while the heights are punctuated by a Lookout Tower near the Pike State Forest boundary. The map captures an era of established small-scale farming and timber management before modern expansion altered the valley floors.