1926 Map of Welch

About this map

Welch serves as the focal point of this McDowell County survey, showing the town at a critical juncture of industrial growth along the Norfolk and Western RR. The map reveals an intricate network of coal-related settlements and company towns branching off the main rail lines, including Coalwood, Gary, and Elbert. The landscape is dominated by the steep drainages of the Tug Fork and Elkhorn Creek, where narrow valleys dictated the placement of every schoolhouse and siding.