2016 Map of Pickens

About this map

The mountain village of Helvetia remains a focal point of this high-altitude landscape in the Allegheny Mountains, where the West Virginia highland tradition is etched into the terrain. The network of waterways, including the Right Fork Buckhannon River and the Middle Fork Right-Fork Buckhannon River, dictates the settlement patterns and road placements, such as the Old Helvetia-Newlonton Rd. To the south, the community of Pickens sits near the headwaters of the Marsh Fork, while smaller settlements like Czar and Silica occupy narrow valleys between high ridges. Genealogists will find several burial grounds noted, including the Helvetia Cem and Pickens Cem, alongside family landmarks like Hicks Ridge and Palace Ridge. The map's steep contouring illustrates the geographic isolation of these timber and mountain-farming communities, separated by peaks such as Turkeybone Mtn and Beech Mtn.