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1897 Map of Tazewell

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Tazewell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1897
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1897

About this map

Tazewell and the surrounding coalfields of the Virginia-West Virginia borderlands are captured here just before the turn of the century. The Norfolk and Western Railway serves as the primary artery for the region, threading through the steep valleys of the Tug River to reach emerging industrial hubs like Welch, Vivian, and Kimball. This 1893 topography shows a landscape in transition, where established agricultural centers such as Thompson Valley and Baptist Valley coexist with newer rail-dependent settlements.

Remote upland landmarks like Mc Neil Store and the aptly named Bear Wallow suggest the isolation of the high ridges before modern roads improved access. To the south, the Clinch River valley's development is evident in the cluster of towns from Richlands to Cedar Bluff and Pounding Mill. The map also meticulously traces the winding state boundary line as it navigates the complex terrain of Keen Mountain and Indian Ridge.