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1935 Map of Charleston

Name: 1935 Topographic Map of Charleston
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Charleston serves as the focal point of this survey, where the convergence of the Kanawha River and the Elk river valley established a major transportation hub by the mid-1930s. The landscape is deeply influenced by heavy industry and military activity, notably the large U.S. Navy Reservation situated along the river bend near South Charleston. This era captures the city's expansion into residential districts like South Hills and South Park, while the surrounding hills remain dotted with small rural landmarks.

Genealogists can find a high density of local institutions, including Morgan Chapel and numerous country schools such as Alpha Sch and Grandview Sch. The importance of the river-and-rail economy is evident in the tracks of the New York Central and Ohio Central railroads, which service the industrial corridor through Owens, Malden, and Belle. The map also preserves the locations of early mail stops like Plus PO and Reed PO, providing a detailed look at the social geography of Kanawha County before post-war suburbanization.