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1935 Map of Ben Hur

Name: 1935 Topographic Map of Ben Hur
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1935
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1935

About this map

Ben Hur and Jonesville anchor this 1935 landscape in Lee County, where the Powell River carves a winding path through the ridges of Southwest Virginia. The map reveals a rural economy dependent on river crossings and mountain gaps, evidenced by Poteet Ferry Bridge and the nearby Poteet Ford. The Louisville and Nashville RR cuts through the northern section, following the base of Stone Mountain and Poor Valley Ridge, while the southern reaches are dominated by the parallel heights of Wallen Ridge and Wallen Mountain.

Social life in the mid-1930s is mapped through a dense network of country schools and churches, including Miller Sch, Oak Grove Sch, and Glasses Memorial Ch. The inclusion of C C C Camp No 391 near Jonesville provides a specific look at New Deal-era activity in the region. Local industry is represented by small-scale landmarks like Chandler Mill and Daugherty Mill, situated along the numerous creeks and springs that feed the river system.