2019 Map of Thurmond

About this map

Oak Hill stands as the primary hub in this mountainous region of Fayette County, where the plateau drops sharply into the winding canyon of the New River Gorge National River. This geography defined the area’s development, forcing settlements like Thurmond and McKendree to cling to the narrow banks and steep slopes of the New River. The map documents a landscape transitioning from its industrial coal-mining past toward conservation and recreation. Traces of that history remain visible in the dense network of county roads and named locations such as Sewell, Beury, and Claremont, which once thrived as busy rail and mining towns along the canyon floor. From the higher elevations at Pea Ridge and Garden Ground Mtn to the water-level Surprise Rapids, the map illustrates how the rugged terrain dictated the placement of infrastructure like the Thurmond-McKendree Rd and the Thayer Post Office.