1891 Map of Bedford

About this map

Roanoke serves as a burgeoning rail hub in this late 19th-century survey, where the Roanoke Belt Line R R and Norfolk and Western Railroad converge. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the industrial activity at Rorer Mines to the educational grounds of Hollins Inst. (Botetourt Sprs) near Cloverdale. Along the Roanoke River, a complex network of river crossings like Hales Ford and Radfords Ford facilitated commerce and movement before modern bridging was universal.