1977 Map of Pocatalico

About this map

The Pocatalico River winds through the deeply dissected landscape of Kanawha County in this late-1970s orthophotoquad. Unlike a traditional topographic map, this aerial perspective provides a literal view of the dense forest cover and ridge-top development patterns characteristic of West Virginia's interior. Small residential clusters like Pocatalico, Guthrie, and Edgewood are visible as they follow the natural contours of the valley floors and narrow level ground. The orthophoto format, produced by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service, captures the exact texture of the land, from the winding paths of rural roads to the stark contrasts between the cleared hillsides and the heavily timbered ravines of the Appalachian Plateau.