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1963 Map of Vansant

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Vansant
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Levisa Fork cuts a winding path through this corner of the Appalachian Plateau in the early 1960s, serving as the primary corridor for both the Norfolk and Western railway and concentrated settlements like Vansant, Deel, and Oakwood. The landscape is defined by its ridge-and-hollow geography, where family names are etched into the terrain through features like Looney Ridge, Turkey Pen Ridge, and Keen Mtn.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific local landmarks, including the Indian Grave Gap Post Office and numerous hillside cemeteries such as Quillen Cem and McGlothlin Cem. The map documents a period of active resource extraction, evidenced by several Strip Mine operations scattered across the heights. Community life centers on small landmarks like Garden High Sch, Looney Chapel, and the Golf Course situated along Western Creek.