1965 Map of Sandy Level

About this map

Pigg River meanders through the heart of this Virginia landscape, marking the transition from the upland ridges of Smith Mountain and Greer Knob to the fertile bottomlands. In the mid-1960s, the rural character of the region remained defined by small crossroad communities like Museville, Ajax, and Penhook. The arrival of Leesville Lake in the northeast corner of the sheet, near The Fryingspan, indicates the influence of modern hydroelectric development on the historic drainage patterns of Fryingpan Cr. Scattered throughout the hills are indicators of long-standing local heritage, including Sandy Level Ch and the Carter Cem. The presence of Old Railroad Creek and several unnamed old railroad grades suggests a history of timber or mineral transport that once connected these remote settlements to wider markets.