1964 Map of Patterson

About this map

The Norfolk and Western railway corridor along Dismal Creek defines the industrial character of this mid-century Appalachian landscape. This 1964 field-checked survey documents a region defined by coal extraction and timbering, centered on the settlement of Patterson with its industrial Tipple, Conveyor, and Mine Dump. Away from the rail lines, the terrain transitions into a dense network of family-named hollows and ridges, such as Chestnut Hollow and Bradshaw Mtn. These steep slopes are dotted with small-scale landmarks of local genealogy, including the Blankenship Cem, Wolford Cem, and Lower Big Branch Ch. Education in these isolated valleys is represented by the Big Butt Sch and Baker Ridge Sch, while the proliferation of Gas Well labels and the Spruce Mine indicates the continuing expansion of energy resources across the Virginia-West Virginia border.