1977 Map of Montgomery

About this map

The Kanawha River carves a deep path through the narrow valley floor in this late 1970s orthophoto, providing a stark visual record of industrial and residential development concentrated along the water. The settlements of Montgomery and Smithers sit directly on the riverbanks, where the flat land is at a premium between the water's edge and the rising slopes. This aerial perspective, prepared in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service, reveals the intensity of surface disturbance in the surrounding hills, likely indicating the extensive coal mining operations characteristic of this region. To the northwest, Hugheston follows the bend of the river, while Kimberly and Boomer appear as tightly clustered developments in the hollows and along the main transit corridors, illustrating the historical dependence of these communities on the river-and-rail infrastructure of the Kanawha Valley.