2023 Map of Vales Mills

About this map

Vales Mills and Bolins Mills anchor this portion of the Vinton County landscape, where the winding course of Raccoon Creek and its many tributaries, such as Russell Run and Brush Fork, dictate the pattern of settlement. The terrain is defined by prominent elevations like Union Ridge and Chestnut Ridge, which provide a backdrop for a series of small, interconnected communities including Arbaugh, Mount Blanco, and Point Rock. Local history is deeply embedded in the numerous family-named landmarks and country burial grounds, such as Harkins Chapel Cem, Putnam Chapel Cem, and Castor Cem. The map illustrates a rural network of township and county roads, including Harkins Chapel Rd and Weaver Church Rd, that connect these isolated hamlets and churches across the complex topography of Dixon Hill and Pierce Hollow.