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2016 Map of Oakvale

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

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

East River and the Norfolk Southern rail line dictate the settlement patterns of this corridor along the West Virginia and Virginia border. The village of Oakvale serves as a central hub, flanked by smaller hollows and ridge-top communities like Christian Ridge and Hatcher. To the south, the landscape shifts into the protected woodland of the Jefferson National Forest, where the terrain becomes significantly more complex around Buckhorn Mtn and Ragged Mtn.

Genealogists will find several burial sites preserved here, including Oakvale Cem, Hales Chapel Cem, and Beamer Cem. The map documents traditional river crossings and family-named landmarks such as First Ford near Boxley and Johnston Hollow further north. The convergence of Mercer County and Giles County lines highlights the area's significance as a transition point between the two states, anchored by the passage of the East River through Honaker Gap.