2019 Map of Lester

About this map

Guyandotte Mountain and Acord Ridge define the steep relief of this Raleigh County region, where coal-era settlements follow the winding paths of Slab Fork and Winding Gulf. The landscape is a dense network of valley communities, including Lester, Glen White, and Stotesbury, many of which were founded as company towns along the rail-dependent corridors of the southern West Virginia coalfields. The map highlights the proximity of neighboring camps like Tams, Helen, and Killarney, illustrating how the industry dictated the settlement pattern through narrow hollows like Slickrock Hollow. Beyond the industrial centers, local family history is anchored by features such as the Slab Fork Cem and natural landmarks like Hallie Basham Spring. Modern infrastructure, notably the Jeffrey S. Taylor Memorial Bridge near Sophia, connects these older mining hubs to contemporary transit routes, even as the terrain maintains its isolated character.