1954 Map of Charleston

About this map

The Kanawha River serves as the industrial and logistical spine of this mid-century portrait of West Virginia, where the state capital of Charleston is surrounded by a dense network of chemical plants and rail hubs including South Charleston, Nitro, and Saint Albans. The map reveals a landscape defined by the sharp transition from the river-bottom industrial corridor to the high ridges of the Allegheny Mountains in the east. Within the Monongahela National Forest, numerous peaks like Big Spruce Knob and Cold Knob dominate a region largely devoid of major settlements, contrasting with the river valley's activity.