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1908 Map of Bidwell

Name: 1908 Topographic Map of Bidwell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1908
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1908

About this map

Raccoon Creek and its many tributaries, including Little Raccoon Creek and Symmes Creek, dominate the rural landscape of Gallia County at the dawn of the twentieth century. The map reveals a dense network of country schools and churches that served these isolated farming communities, such as Tomato Valley School, Gravel Hollow School, and the remote Nebo Church.

Settlement patterns follow the winding creek valleys and the early turnpikes, with established centers at Vinton and Rio Grande. Infrastructure of the era is preserved through specific landmarks like Calhoun Bridge and the path of the Hocking Valley (Purchase Company) railroad. This survey provides a meticulous record of vanished post offices and local place names like Centerville Thurman P O and Pinegrove P O, offering researchers a clear view of the social geography before modern rural consolidation.