2019 Map of Prater

About this map

Russell Fork and its numerous mountain tributaries carve through this corner of Buchanan and Dickenson Counties. The settlement of Vicey sits at a critical junction near Lovers Gap, while Prater occupies the central valley along Russell Prater Cr. The landscape is defined by its deep hollows and high ridges, such as Rakes Ridge and Boyd Ridge, which dictated the early winding road patterns and small, isolated communities. For genealogists, the map is a significant resource for locating small family burial grounds, including Deel Cem, Owens Cem, and Viers Cem, which are scattered among the steep terrain and narrow bottomlands. In the northeast, the presence of the Grundy Municipal Airport marks a modern development in an otherwise deeply traditional Appalachian coalfield landscape, providing a sharp contrast to the older hamlets like Viers and Cannady.