2016 Map of Nora

About this map

McClure River and its numerous tributaries, including Trammel Cr and Open Fork, carve through the complex ridge systems of Dickenson County. The settlement pattern follows these deep drainages, with the rail-dependent communities of Trammel, Wakenva, and Nora clustered along the valley floors. The landscape is defined by its industrial transit infrastructure, notably the Sandy Ridge Tunnel and Buffalo Tunnel, which pierce the high elevations of the Tennessee Valley Divide. Numerous family burial grounds, such as Salyer Cem, Rasnick Cem, and Dameron Cem, are perched on the steep slopes of Counts Ridge and Skeens Ridge. This topography reveals the persistent isolation of Appalachian hollows, where even 21st-century map data shows a dense network of private family cemeteries and small creek-side settlements like Aily and McClure.