The Big Stone Gap in Stone Mountain divides the Powell Valley located in Wise County from the portion of Powell Valley located in Lee County (Note - Powell Valley extends into Tenn). On the Wise County side, is the town of Big Stone Gap. On the Lee County side is the town of Pennington Gap. Normally when one refers to being from BSG, they are from the area around the town of BSG. The town of BSG is located at the junction of the North and South forks of the Powell River. The North fork flows from near Norton, through the town of Appalachia to BSG. The South fork forms on Powell Mountain and flows through the head of the valley to BSG. After joining the river flows south through Lee County. Also of possible interest is that Stone Mountain forms the western side of Powell Valley and Powell Mountain forms the eastern side. There are many gaps and mountain branches in this area. BSG is the general conjunction point of the initial western routes from Washington county into Kentucky. They came via Gate City across Sperry's Ferry, into Powell Valley, down through Lee County and into Kentucky via the Cumberland Gap - all thanks to Powell Valley resident Davy Crockett. -----Original Message----- From: Edgar A. Howard <ehoward@conknet.com> To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, January 15, 1999 09:03 Subject: Re: The Gap Kerry, Big Stone Gap was and is on the Lee and Wise Co. line on the Powell river. It is SW of Norton. There is a gap in Big Stone Mt. where the river comes thru. Thus Big Stone Gap. I think it was founded during the coal boom of the turn of the century. The last century. <g> -eddie I've had information come to me about a Lucy McCloud, born in Big Stone Gap, Lee Co., VA. Now I see someone on the list has Big Stone Gap, Wise Co......just where was Big Stone Gap? Kerry ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #4 Chain letters, gossip, non-genealogical notes, commercial ads, pleas for help, etc. are PROHIBITED on this List. Violators will be promptly locked out. -sysop ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #9 As of 1/9/1999 we have 450 members. Traffic can get heavy so check your mailbox often. We should regulate traffic so it don't get out of hand. There is an average of ten members coming and going each week. -sysop