2011 Map of Lester

About this map

Guyandotte Mountain dominates the western topography of this Raleigh County region, where the steep hollows and ridges of the southern West Virginia coalfields dictate the pattern of settlement. Dense residential clusters follow the winding watercourses, notably along the Winding Gulf and Slab Fork drainage. Mining and industrial footprints are evident through features like the Riffe Branch Refuse Embankment Dam and the Berry Branch Dam. Historical communities such as Stotesbury, Tams, and Glen White are situated within these narrow valleys, while the town of Sophia serves as a more developed hub on the eastern edge. Industrial artifacts and landmarks including the Tams Mountain Lookout Tower and the curiously named Big Stick provide specific points of interest for local historians and researchers tracking the geography of the New River and Winding Gulf coalfields.