1970 Map of Spruce Knob

About this map

Spruce Mountain dominates this portion of the Allegheny Highlands, reaching its apex at Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. This 1970 survey illustrates a landscape primarily defined by the Monongahela National Forest and the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. The settlement of Cherry Grove sits along the South Branch Potomac River, serving as a focal point for the small mountain community. Topographic details reveal the complex drainage systems of Seneca Creek and Gandy Creek, which carve deep valleys like Switchback Hollow and Late Hedrick Hollow. Genealogists and local historians can find family-named landmarks such as Lee Bennett Hol and Grants Branch, alongside community anchors like Big Run Chapel and several mountain cemeteries. The inclusion of Old Railroad Run points to a history of timber extraction that shaped these high ridges before they became protected recreational lands.