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1909 Map of Charleston

Name: 1909 Topographic Map of Charleston
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1923
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1923

About this map

The Kanawha River serves as the industrial and transit spine for this 1907 survey, where the city of Charleston and South Charleston are emerging as major regional hubs. The river valley is dense with transportation infrastructure, including the Kanawha and Michigan and Chesapeake and Ohio railroads that hug the banks. This era shows the local economy's heavy reliance on the river and rail network, evidenced by specialized sites like Lock 6 and the Mason Sta Graham Mines PO.

Beyond the urban centers, the landscape is defined by steep ridges and winding hollows, dotted with small community landmarks such as Morgan Chapel, Fairview Church, and several rural schoolhouses like Morning Star School. In the West Charleston area, a distinctive Mound is noted near the riverbanks, representing a prehistoric feature preserved amid the growing industrialization of the early twentieth century.