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1958 Map of Tiptop

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Tiptop
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Abbs Valley and the surrounding ridges of Tazewell County define a landscape shaped by both the Norfolk and Western Ry and the rugged topography of the Jefferson National Forest. This region shows a transition from agricultural bottoms to industrial resource extraction, evidenced by Strip mines near Horsepen Creek and high-elevation landmarks like the Valley Ridge Lookout Tower. The settlement patterns follow the narrow corridors of Wrights Valley and Stony Valley, where small communities such as Tiptop and Springville emerged along the rail lines and riverbanks.

Local history is preserved through dozens of family-named cemeteries, including the Dillon Cem, McDowell Cem, and French Cem, which dot the slopes of Stony Ridge and Yokel Ridge. Institutional history is also present, from the Prison Camp No 31 near Gratton Sch to the Valley Gospel Mission. The hydrology of the area is particularly significant, showing the headwaters of the Clinch River and the Bluestone River as they are channeled by the formidable barrier of Buckhorn Ridge.