2013 Map of McDowell

About this map

McDowell and East McDowell sit at the center of this mountain landscape, where the narrow valleys of Left Fork Beaver Cr and Mud Cr dictate the settlement patterns of Floyd County. The terrain is characterized by a dense network of hollows and ridges, with family legacies recorded in names like Indian Grave Hollow and Rich Hollow. The community of Beaver marks a significant junction near the southern edge, while the heights are watched over by the Mud Creek Lookout Tower. This survey documents a region where transportation and life remain closely tied to the watercourses, from the northern reach of Drift to the clusters of homes at Craynor and Teaberry. Local history is preserved in numerous family burial grounds, including Lee Alley Cem and the Thomas Hamilton Cem, which anchor the various branches and forks that define these Appalachian communities.