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1957 Map of Wise

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Wise
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Wise and its surrounding coal-country settlements define this mid-century landscape, where the Guest River carves a deep valley through Guest Mountain. The map illustrates the industrial and institutional core of the region, featuring Glinch Valley College and the Wise County Memorial Hospital. Extensive Strip Mines dot the ridges north of the river, while the Norfolk and Western railroad tracks follow the river's winding course through Tacoma and Ramsey.

South of the river, the terrain shifts into the protected wilderness of the Jefferson National Forest and the Glades Wildlife Management Area. For genealogists, the map is remarkably dense with family-named landmarks, including dozens of small burial grounds like Hubbard Cem and Skeen Cem, and local schools such as Kelly Sch. This intersection of industrial extraction and rugged conservation areas like Pickem Mountain provides a clear view of the region's mid-century economic and social structure.