2011 Map of Sylvester

About this map

Big Coal River serves as the central artery through this Boone County landscape, winding past a string of river-bottom settlements. In the early 21st century, towns like Sylvester, Keith, and Orgas—the latter featuring its own Orgas Post Office—sit tucked into the narrow valleys where various forks and branches meet the main river. The terrain is deeply etched by water, with complex drainages like Joes Creek, White Oak Creek, and Hopkins Fork defining the upland reaches. Family and community history is anchored in numerous small burial grounds, including Coon Cemetery in the north and Foster Cemetery near Mount Hope. This network of small hamlets, connected by routes like Seth-Prenter Rd and Kirbyton Rd, reflects the enduring settlement patterns of the West Virginia coalfields where industry and geography dictated the placement of every homestead and post office.