1965 Map of Powellton

About this map

Armstrong Mountain and the deep valleys of Armstrong Creek define this coal-producing landscape on the Kanawha and Fayette County line. The map captures a high-intensity extraction economy, where numerous Strip Mines and conveyor systems serve the industrial towns of Powellton, Elkridge, and Burnwell. These settlements are linked by a dense network of rail lines, including the Chesapeake and Ohio and Norfolk and Western railroads, which navigate the narrow hollows. Deeply personal history is preserved in small family burial grounds like the Craig Cemeteries and Johnson Cem, while larger community landmarks such as Meadow Haven Memorial Park appear near Hamilton. The terrain is marked by dozens of branch streams like Sycamore Branch and Robinson Branch, illustrating the complex drainage patterns that dictated the placement of early mining camps and tipples.