1968 Map of Richlands

About this map

The Clinch River carves through this section of the Appalachian plateau, where the industrial presence of the Norfolk and Western railroad anchors a landscape defined by coal and transit. In the late 1960s, the area from Red Ash and Raven through Richlands and Cedar Bluff shows a dense concentration of Strip Mine operations and Mine Dump sites. These industrial features sit alongside local landmarks like the Cedar Hills Raceway and the Southwest Virginia Community College. To the south, the terrain transitions into the steep elevations of Kents Ridge and House and Barn Mountain, separating the industrial corridor from the winding course of the Little River. The map meticulously records community infrastructure ranging from the Richlands Municipal Airport to numerous country churches like Macedonia Ch and Road Ridge Ch.