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2016 Map of Norton

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Norton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Powell River and its numerous tributaries carve through the Appalachian landscape, anchoring a series of industrial and residential settlements such as Blackwood, Josephine, and Dorchester. This corridor is defined by the convergence of rail and road at Kent Junction and Dorchester Junction, serving as vital transit points between the steep ridges of Little Stone Mtn and Stone Mountain. The map reveals a dense network of family and community history, evidenced by many small burial sites like Stidham Cem and Skeens Ridge Cem scattered across the uplands.

Much of the southern terrain is protected within the Jefferson National Forest, where the elevation rises significantly toward High Knob. Water management for the local population is visible through the Upper Norton Reservoir and Norton Reservoirs, while smaller bodies like Rimrock Lake and Back Cr Lake are tucked into the valleys. The proximity of Norton and Big Stone Gap highlights the region's development within the constraints of the local topography.