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2016 Map of Thornton

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Thornton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The rugged river valleys and high ridges of Taylor, Preston, and Barbour counties define this landscape, where the northern waters of Tygart Lake meet the steep winding hollows of the West Virginia hills. The city of Grafton sits at the western edge, serving as a gateway to smaller surrounding settlements like Thornton, Knottsville, and Hiram. This area is characterized by a dense network of country roads following the natural contours of the land, connecting family homesteads and local landmarks such as Larew Airport and Siggens Hollow.

Family history is preserved in numerous upland burial grounds, including Knottsville Cem, Mount Pleasant Cem, and Wesley Chapel Cem. The hydrology is particularly intricate, with named waterways like Three Fork Creek, Sandy Creek, and Glade Run carving through the terrain. The presence of these creeks and the large reservoir suggests a long-standing relationship between the local geography and the water-driven development of these Appalachian communities.