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1962 Map of Oriskany

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Oriskany
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Oriskany sits along the bend of Craig Creek, serving as a focal point for this rugged portion of the Jefferson National Forest in the early 1960s. The landscape is defined by the steep ridges of Patterson Mountain and Caldwell Mountain, where the legacy of earlier transportation is visible in the Craig Railroad Grade tracing the river's path. This former rail line once connected the remote iron-ore communities of Botetourt and Craig counties to wider markets.

Genealogists will find a wealth of family history in the numerous small burial grounds dotting the valleys, including the McAlester Cem, Anderson Cem, and Peck Cem. To the south, the settlement of Fincastle appears at the edge of the survey, while Howell Mills sits along Catawba Creek. The map also captures several rural landmarks like Camp Montgomery and the Mt Pleasant Ch, documenting the community structure before modern development altered these mountain hollows.