1969 Map of Snowy Mountain

About this map

South Fork Potomac River carves a deep valley through this highland border region, where the state line between West Virginia and Virginia follows the high crest of the Alleghenies. The landscape is defined by the convergence of the Monongahela National Forest and the George Washington National Forest, creating a mosaic of protected timberland and isolated mountain settlements. Small upland communities like Hardscrabble and Dry Run are connected by narrow roads that trace the winding watercourses of Laurel Fork and Straight Fork. The mapping reveals a traditional rural social structure centered on local landmarks such as Elk Mt Chapel, Swank Chapel, and Dry Run Ch, alongside several family-named cemeteries. Notable terrain features including Snowy Mountain, Backbone Mountain, and The Stamp overlook a network of hollows and runs, reflecting a late 1960s snapshot of West Virginia’s ridge-and-valley topography before modern development.