1957 Map of Romance

About this map

Romance and Cicerone anchor this section of West Virginia where the Poca River and Pocatalico River wind through the deeply dissected terrain of Kanawha, Roane, and Jackson Counties. The mid-century landscape is defined by small, stream-side communities and a dense network of family cemeteries such as the Wheatcraft Cem and Lanham Cem, reflecting generations of local settlement. Rural education and faith are central to the geography, evidenced by the many small schoolhouses and churches like Roosevelt Sch and Welcome Mission Ch. While the hills remain largely forested, the presence of numerous oil wells and gas wells particularly near Island Branch and Leatherwood indicates the area's industrial reliance on natural resource extraction during this era. High ridges like Fisher Ridge and Rockheap Ridge divide the numerous hollows and runs that feed into the larger river systems.