1955 Map of Pennington Gap

About this map

St Charles and Pennington Gap anchor this mid-century portrait of the coal-rich mountains along the Kentucky Virginia border. The landscape is defined by the steep ridges of Black Mountain and Stone Mountain, where narrow hollows dictate the placement of communities and transport lines. The industrial footprint of the era is evident in the rail infrastructure of the Louisville & Nashville railroad and the presence of specialized settlements like Bonny Blue, Darbyville, and Mayflower.