1967 Map of Widen

About this map

Extractive industry and rugged ridges define this section of the Central West Virginia coalfields as recorded in the 1960s and updated in the mid-1970s. The settlement of Widen sits at the heart of the landscape, marked by its Tipple and nearby Substation, reflecting the area's history as a company coal town. The terrain is dominated by Hamilton Mountain and Browns Ridge, where numerous operations labeled as Strip Mine follow the contour of the hills. Transport is anchored by the B & O railroad line, which snakes along the banks of Birch River in the northeastern corner near Opal. Genealogists will find family-named locations such as Butcher Cem and the Young Monument on Powell Mountain, alongside community centers like the Little Creek Union Ch. The map captures a moment of transition where traditional small settlements like Wattsville and Dille coexist with expanding surface mining and gas exploration across the Muddlety Creek watershed.