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1996 Map of Rhodell

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Rhodell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2003
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2003

About this map

Guyandotte River carves a deep path through the coal-rich terrain of southern West Virginia, anchoring a series of industrial settlements including Iroquois, Stephenson, and Amigo. The landscape is heavily defined by the extraction economy of the late 20th century, with numerous mines, mine dumps, and a tipple marking the valleys near Stonecoal Junction. This topography forced development into narrow ribbons along the water and rail corridors, creating a distinct linear settlement pattern characteristic of the Appalachian coalfields.

Away from the river, the ridges rise sharply to Barkers Ridge and Horsepen Ridge, where isolated community centers like Union Ch and Mt Pisgah Ch served the upland residents. Along the southern edge, the map documents Herndon and Herndon Heights, while small family landmarks like the Milam Cem near Milam Branch provide essential points of reference for genealogical research in this rugged portion of Wyoming and Raleigh Counties.