2019 Map of Tiptop

About this map

Tazewell serves as the hub of this Southwest Virginia landscape, situated where the Clinch Valley meets the high ridges of the Appalachians. The terrain is defined by a series of parallel valleys including Abbs Valley and Wrights Valley, carved out by the Bluestone River and the N Fork Clinch River. The settlement pattern reflects the deep-rooted family history of the area, as evidenced by dozens of family burial grounds such as Witten Cem, Sluss Cem, and Peery Cem found along the hillsides. Industrial and recreational footprints are visible at Wittens Mills and the Tazewell County Sportsmen Club Lake, while the northern portion of the map transitions into the protected wilderness of the Jefferson National Forest. This survey also documents the modern rail infrastructure of the Norfolk Southern line as it navigates the complex elevations of the Tennessee Valley Divide and the steep slopes of East River Mtn.