2019 Map of Williamson

About this map

The Tug Fork river defines the border between Kentucky and West Virginia, carving through a landscape of steep hollows and narrow valleys where coal-country settlements like Williamson and Chattaroy took root. The Norfolk Southern railroad runs parallel to the water, serving as the industrial backbone for towns such as Borderland, Nolan, and Goody. The terrain is deeply inscribed with local history, evidenced by the high density of family burial grounds including the Orrison R Lowe Number One Cem, the Thomas Sherman Lowe Cem, and the Stepp-Vance Cem. Modern infrastructure and residential development are concentrated in the flats of South Williamson and East Williamson, while landmarks like the Mingo County Airport and the Pond Creek Tunnel show the ongoing adaptation to this complex topography. Small communities like Leckieville and Forest Hills occupy the tributary branches, where names like Indian Grave Hollow and Groundhog Hollow reflect the traditional nomenclature of the Tug Valley.