1928 Map of Matewan

About this map

Matewan serves as the focal point of this Central Appalachian study, situated along the winding Tug Fork where the Norfolk and Western RR tracks follow the river's path through the coal-rich borderlands. The landscape in the late 1920s is defined by industrial activity and small mining communities, with Puritan Mines and Thacker Mines anchored in the narrow valleys. The map illustrates a high density of rural schoolhouses such as Red Jacket Sch and Chafin Sch, which supported the families of laborers in settlements like Delbarton, Thacker, and Vulcan. Movement through the steep terrain is dictated by the water, following Blackberry Creek and the Middle Fork of Island Creek. Historical post offices including Delorme Edgarton PO and Devon O'Keeffe PO indicate the vital communication hubs for these remote West Virginia and Kentucky townships during the peak of the rail-and-mine economy.