1913 Map of Beckley

About this map

The Piney River and New River canyons carve through the high plateaus of southern West Virginia, defining the industrial and social landscape of this 1913 survey. The topography is dominated by the complex coal-and-rail infrastructure that once linked numerous mountain settlements. Communities like Mt Hope, Glen Jean, and Oak Hill are connected by a dense web of branches from the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, reflecting the peak of the regional coal era. The map traces the early development of Beckley and the county seat at Fayetteville, while numerous rural outposts like Dothan and Prosperity dot the ridges. Notable local landmarks for genealogists include a high concentration of country schools, such as Excelsior School, Garden Ground School, and Dry Hill School, which served the families living along the steep banks of Stretcher Neck and Bat Off Mountain.