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1935 Map of Charleston

Name: 1935 Topographic Map of Charleston
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

Industrial and residential development follows the deep curves of the Kanawha River and Elk River in this West Virginia valley during the mid-1930s. The city of Charleston and West Charleston serve as the central hub, supported by a dense network of transportation infrastructure including the New York Central RR and the Chesapeake and Ohio RR. The riverfront is heavily utilized, featuring the U S Navy Reservation near South Charleston and the emerging suburbs of Dunbar and Spring Hill.

Beyond the urban core, the terrain rises into sharp ridges where rural life persists in small pockets like Guthrie and Rutledge. Local genealogy is well-preserved through numerous named landmarks such as Morgan Chapel and family-named institutions like McChesney Sch and Henson Dell Sch. Smaller communities like Dana PO and South Malden line the rail corridors, illustrating the historical reliance on river-level transport before the expansion of higher-altitude roadways.