1932 Map of Beckley

About this map

Peavine Ridge and the winding course of the New River dominate this landscape, illustrating the industrial and residential patterns of the West Virginia coalfields between the world wars. The heavy reliance on rail transport is evident in the path of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, which follows the river's deep incision through Stretcher Neck. Settlements like Oak Hill, Scarbro, and Glen Jean cluster along the ridges and narrow valleys, interconnected by a complex web of local roads and creek systems like Dunloup Creek. Numerous rural institutions are documented, including the Miles Sch and Lewis Williams Sch, serving the scattered communities. The terrain transitions from the high elevations of Sewell Mountain in the northeast to the dense collection of hollows near Kilsyth and Mt Hope, reflecting the era's concentrated extraction and transport infrastructure before modern highway expansion.