1891 Map of Bedford

About this map

Roanoke and Bedford serve as major centers in this late-19th-century survey of the Virginia interior, where the Norfolk and Western Railroad provides the primary industrial artery. The landscape is defined by the steep rises of Tinker Mountain and Porters Mountain, which hem in a network of water-powered industry and mineral extraction. Notable sites such as the Rorer Mines and Lynchburg Mills illustrate the local economy of the day. Educational and social landmarks are also prominent, including Hollins Inst. and the popular Blue Ridge Springs resort. Deep in the rural valleys of Botetourt and Bedford counties, numerous small congregations and milling operations like Diamond Hill Church and Joppa Mill reveal the scattered nature of settlement before the modern highway system replaced the network of river crossings like Carters Island Ford.