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1955 Map of Pennington Gap

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Pennington Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Coal and timber interests define the mountain-and-valley landscape of the Kentucky Virginia border, where the Southern and L & N railroads converge to serve the region's mining operations. Industrial nodes like Bonny Blue, Darbyville, and Nolansburg No 2 are connected by a network of spurs and sidings, including Turners Siding, cutting through the ridges of Little Black Mountain and Lone Mountain.

South of the mining camps, the terrain descends into Poor Valley Ridge and the North Fork Powell River basin. Here, the larger settlement of Pennington Gap serves as a regional hub, featuring the Pennington Sch and local family landmarks like Parsons Cem and Turner Cem. The map reveals the intricate human geography of the Appalachians, where remote hollows like Deirth Hollow and Crusenberry Hollow contain small communities anchored by centers like Burkhart Chapel and Pine Grove Church.