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1965 Map of Narrows

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Narrows
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The New River carves a deep path through the Appalachians here, centering on the mountain gap where Narrows developed as a vital river and rail junction. By the mid-1960s, the Norfolk and Western railway lines dominate the riverbanks, supporting industrial sites like the Quarry and a large Radio Tower (WNRV). The landscape is defined by massive ridges, including Peters Mountain and Pearis Mountain, which constrain settlement to the narrow valleys of Wolf Creek and Wilburn Valley.

For local historians, the map preserves the locations of numerous family-named landmarks such as Blankenship Cem and Woolwine Cem, along with rural centers like Shumate and Thessalia. The presence of the Appalachian Trail crossing over Angels Rest illustrates the intersection of industrial transport and wilderness recreation within the Jefferson National Forest. This 1976 photorevision documents evolving land use, including early sewage infrastructure and expanding tailings ponds near the river.