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1931 Map of Charleston

Name: 1931 Topographic Map of Charleston
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Industrial and urban expansion along the Kanawha River and Elk River defines this 1931 revision of the Kanawha valley. The core of Charleston is flanked by bustling satellite communities like South Charleston, Dunbar, and Marmet, all connected by a dense network of major rail lines including the Baltimore and Ohio, New York Central, and Chesapeake and Ohio. A notable U S Navy Reservation sits prominently along the riverbank west of the city, highlighting the area's strategic importance during the early 20th century.

Away from the industrial riverfront, the steep topography is dotted with a remarkably high density of rural schools and post offices, serving families in the hollows and gaps. Names like Levi Rand PO, Reed PO, and Roxalana Sch indicate the localized nature of mountain life before modern consolidation. From Fairview Ch in the west to the small settlements of Snow Hill and Blackhawk, the map provides a look at the transition from coal-driven industry to rural Appalachian homesteads.