Loading map...

2011 Map of Nora

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

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

McClure River carves a deep path through this Appalachian landscape, serving as a primary corridor for settlements like Stratton and Nora. The topography is defined by high ridges such as Nealy Ridge and Counts Ridge, which separate the numerous branch hollows that have historically dictated the placement of homesteads and family burial grounds. The concentration of dozens of small cemeteries, including the Powers Cemetery and Grizzle Cemetery, reflects the deep-rooted genealogical history of the area's hollows and ridges.

Industrial and transport infrastructure is evidenced by engineering features like the Buffalo Tunnel and Martin Tunnel, which allowed passage through the steep terrain. Small communities like Wakenva and Aily are connected by a network of winding roads that follow the watercourses, such as Lick Creek and Buffalo Creek. This map reveals a late 20th-century view of a region where geography and community remain inextricably linked by the mountains.