Loading map...

1965 Map of Big Island

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Big Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

The James River and Pedlar River converge in this mid-1960s survey, marking a rugged landscape where the Blue Ridge meets industrial transit lines. The Chesapeake and Ohio Rwy follows the northern bank of the James, connecting small riverfront communities like Big Island, Waugh, and Coleman Falls. Much of the western terrain is preserved within the George Washington National Forest, where the Blue Ridge Parkway snakes past several scenic overlooks, including The Riffles Overlook and Terrapin Hill Overlook.

Local history is preserved in the distribution of rural landmarks, such as Cornerstone Ch and Centenary Ch near Naola. Water management and recreation are evident at Otter Lake and the Otter Creek Recreation Area, while more remote reaches are accessed only by Jeep Trails and a Pipeline. This map captures a moment when traditional river-and-rail industry coexisted with the expanding footprint of federal parklands.