1971 Map of Louisa

About this map

Louisa and Fort Gay sit at the confluence of the Big Sandy River, Tug Fork, and Levisa Fork, marking the junction where Kentucky and West Virginia meet. This survey, updated in the early 1970s and late 1980s, reveals a landscape defined by its river crossings and the expansion of the extractive industry. The terrain south of the town centers is heavily marked by strip mines and reclaimed strip mine areas, particularly around Torchlight Hollow Creek and Stonecoal. The rural character of the river valleys is preserved through numerous family and community landmarks, such as Smith Chapel and Wilson Chapel, alongside small settlements like Walbridge and Saltpetre. In the eastern portion of the map, the hills around Bromley Ridge and Watts Ridge are dotted with isolated oil wells and gas infrastructure, illustrating the industrial footprint on the Appalachian highlands.