Loading map...

2011 Map of Matoaka

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Matoaka
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Matoaka and Lashmeet serve as central hubs in this corner of Mercer County, where the coal heritage of the region is etched into the landscape. The presence of the Turkey Gap Mine Refuse Dump Dam near Dott and the evocative name of Smokeless reflect the industrial legacy of the Widemouth Creek drainage. Several post offices, including those at Beeson, Springton, and Hiawatha, indicate a network of small, established communities connected by winding ridge roads like Stovall Ridge and Nubbin Ridge.

Genealogists can find significant local history through numerous burial sites, such as the Matoaka Cemetery and Saint Peters Lutheran Cemetery. Along the Bluestone River, the area transitions to recreational and valley land at Lake Shawnee and Lake Bottom. The rugged geography is further defined by its many branches and forks, including the Pocosin Fork and Middleton Fork, which dictated the early settlement patterns and transport routes of these Appalachian hollows.