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1963 Map of Trace

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Trace
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Twelvepole Creek winds through the complex ridge-and-hollow topography of southwestern West Virginia, serving as a primary corridor for the Norfolk and Western railroad. This map reveals a landscape heavily shaped by local education and faith, with numerous small institutions like Hugh Dingess Sch, Dalton Sch No 3, and Pilgrim Rest Ch anchoring isolated communities along the narrow valley floors. These settlements, including Trace and Dingess, are interconnected by a network of winding roads and several jeep trails that navigate the high terrain of Kiah Ridge.

The area's economic character is defined by a dense concentration of gas wells and occasional mines scattered among the timbered slopes. Family history is etched into the land through named landmarks and burial grounds such as Mullins Cem, Kinser Cem, and Meeks Cem. This survey captures the region as its traditional coal and gas industries were well-established, showing the intersection of industrial extraction and deep-rooted rural life near the borders of Wayne, Lincoln, Logan, and Mingo counties.