2014 Map of Wilsondale

About this map

The Norfolk Southern railroad carves a diagonal path through the high ridges and hollows of the West Virginia borderlands, connecting small creek-side settlements like Wilsondale and Lowney. The terrain is characterized by a series of prominent gaps and knobs, including Breeden Gap, Swelled Hickory Gap, and Kelly Knob, which dictated the historical movement of goods and people between Wayne, Mingo, and Lincoln counties. Family history is deeply rooted in this landscape, evidenced by the high density of small cemeteries such as Meade and Messer Cem, Baisden Cem, and Mullins Cem that dot the ridges and forks.