1963 Map of Prater

About this map

The winding course of the Russell Fork river carves through the Cumberland Plateau along the Buchanan and Dickenson line, anchoring a landscape defined by narrow hollows and steep ridges. In the early 1960s, small settlements like Prater, Vicey, and Viers were connected by a network of creekside roads and ridge-top gaps such as Upper Greenbrier Gap and Lovers Gap. This era reveals the local reliance on community institutions, with several small schools like the Lower Greenbrier Sch and War Fork Sch serving the remote valleys. Land use is deeply tied to the terrain, showing the emergence of Strip Mines near Poplar Gap alongside traditional family landmarks like the Deel Cem and Owens Cem. The northern edge of the map identifies the Grundy Airport and a Lookout Tower, providing early markers of regional infrastructure and fire management.