1963 Map of Wilsondale

About this map

Cabwaylingo State Forest dominates the western half of this landscape, its boundary lines weaving through the intricate drainage basins of Twelvepole Creek and Jennie Creek. The area is defined by a dense network of ridge-and-hollow topography, where early 1960s settlements like Wilsondale and Breeden follow the narrow valleys alongside the N & W Ry. This survey reveals a deeply established rural community, evidenced by numerous family-named landmarks such as Kelly Knob, Perry Ridge, and Ferguson Cem. Numerous oil and gas wells dot the slopes of Cranes Nest Ridge and Tick Ridge, highlighting the region's historical reliance on mineral extraction alongside the timber interests of the state forest. Small mountain schools and churches, including the Kelly Knob Sch and Mt Sinai Ch, serve as focal points for local history and genealogy in this corner of West Virginia where Wayne, Lincoln, and Mingo counties meet.