2019 Map of Swandale

About this map

Buffalo Creek and its numerous tributaries, including Barrenshe Br and Ewings Br, carve a complex network of hollows through this portion of Clay and Nicholas counties. The topography is defined by high points like Big Knob and Wallowhole Knob, with the local population centers of Swandale, Cressmont, and Enoch situated along the lower elevations and creek bottoms. This 2019 survey documents a landscape where traditional Appalachian settlements are connected by a web of mountain roads such as Widen Ridge Rd and Swandale Rd. Genealogists will find several family and local burial sites preserved on the landscape, including Ramsey Cem near Eakle and Kyle Cem further south. The map also records the prominent Duffy Ridge and Bonetown Gap, illustrating the enduring physical barriers that have shaped the development of these timber and coal-rich highlands.