1958 Map of Sissonville

About this map

The Pocatalico River carves a winding path through the dissected plateau of Kanawha and Putnam Counties, defining a landscape where narrow ridges like Leffers Ridge and Hogpen Ridge overlook deeply etched hollows. In the mid-1950s, this region remained characterized by small, dispersed rural settlements and a dense network of country schools and churches. Sissonville serves as a primary hub along the river, while smaller communities like Liberty and Goldtown anchor the surrounding hills. The map captures an era of specific local infrastructure, showing numerous gas wells and institutions like the Unexpected Sch and Point Harmony Sch. An intricate web of drainage, including Derrick Creek and Allen Fork, dictates the placement of winding roads and hillside cemeteries such as the Rock Spring Cem. This survey illustrates the transition of a traditional Appalachian rural economy as it began to integrate modern utility corridors and a local Golf Course.