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1918 Map of Charles City

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Charles City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

The James River and Chickahominy River define this 1918 portrait of Tidewater Virginia, where maritime commerce and agricultural history intersect at prominent landings and wharves. Along the riverbanks, established estates and hubs like Berkeley, Westover, and Upper Brandon represent centuries of settlement, supported by a network of river access points including Harrisons Landing and Stanley Wharf. Inland, the landscape is dotted with early 20th-century rural infrastructure, including numerous schools such as the Samaria Indian School and Greenward School.

The industrial and social life of the era is evidenced by water-powered mills like Edhuas Mill and Rolands Mill, while the Chesapeake and Ohio River railroad tracks connect settlements like Roxbury and Providence Forge. The map also preserves the site of Fort Powhatan and the National Cemetery near Glendale, anchoring the geography in its military past. Small communities such as Ruthville and Barnetts appear as they functioned before the widespread modernization of the Virginia peninsula.