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1971 Map of Richardson

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Richardson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Levisa Fork carves a deep, winding path through the borderlands of Lawrence and Johnson counties, serving as the primary corridor for the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. This river-and-rail network anchored the economic life of the region, connecting riverside settlements like Richardson and Henrietta with the coal and timber resources of the interior. The landscape is heavily defined by extractive industry, with numerous Mines and Gas Wells scattered across the ridges, and significant Strip Mines appearing near Lowmansville and Wolf Pen Branch.

Small communities are clustered along the creek bottoms, notably at Charley and Noris, where the topography allowed for modest development. Local social life is evidenced by the density of country churches and family-named landmarks, such as Bells Chapel, Chestnut Grove Ch, and the Meade Sch. The map reveals a complex system of drainage, with names like Muddygut Branch, Stillhouse Br, and Oldhouse Branch hinting at the early agricultural and domestic history of these hollows.