1965 Map of Sylvatus

About this map

New River frontage and the early presence of Interstate 81 characterize this mid-1960s survey of the border between Wythe and Carroll counties. The northern landscape is anchored by the Old Shot Tower near Jackson Ferry, a site of significant early industrial history. To the south, the winding course of Little Reed Island Creek flows past the community of Sylvatus, which serves as a local hub for the surrounding ridges. The interior of the quadrangle is heavily wooded and defined by Poplar Camp Mountain, yet it remains dotted with small landmarks of community life, including Laurel Sch and numerous country churches like Pine Grove Ch and Round Knob Ch. The network of backroads and creek-bottom settlements like Shorts Creek and Raekettown reflects a long-established rural pattern of life before modern development moved through the region.