1918 Map of Charles City

About this map

The James River and Chickahominy River define the tidewater geography of this early twentieth-century survey, where the river-based economy of historic Virginia plantations meets a developing inland rail network. Along the northern border, the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad connects settlements like Roxbury and Providence Forge, while the southern riverbanks remain anchored by storied landings such as Berkeley (Harrisons Landing) and Westover. The landscape is densely populated with community markers that provide deep genealogical value, including the Samaria Indian School, Parish Hill Church, and the National Cemetery near Glendale. Numerous small mills and wharves, such as Edna's Mill and Stanley Wharf, indicate a reliance on local water power and maritime transport that persisted decades after the Civil War. The map captures an era where traditional estate names like Upper Brandon and Weyanoke still functioned as central landmarks in a rural, marsh-heavy terrain characterized by Whiteoak Swamp and Toe Ink Swamp.