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1968 Map of Speedwell

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Speedwell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Cripple Creek flows through a valley defined by the Iron Mountains and Sand Mountain, anchoring a landscape of rural hamlets and timbered slopes in Wythe County. The settlement of Speedwell serves as the local hub, situated near the confluence of Sugar Run and the creek. The map documents a community infrastructure rooted in small crossroads and family-named landmarks like Stroupes Store and Rowe Crossroads.

Transport history is visible in the Old Railroad Grade winding toward Simmerman, reflecting the era's shift in mountain logistics. Much of the southern terrain is dedicated to the Jefferson National Forest, where high elevations like Perkins Knob and High Knob overlook the Comers Rock Recreation Area. For genealogists, several local congregations are noted, including Rosenbaum Ch, Zion Ch, and Flemming Ch, indicating the dispersed nature of mountain life in the late 1960s.