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1949 Map of Charlottesville

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

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Charlottesville and the University of Virginia anchor the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in this mid-century survey. The landscape is defined by the corrugated ridges of the Allegheny Mountains to the west and the broad Shenandoah Valley, where the South Fork Shenandoah River meanders between Massanutten Mountain and the Blue Ridge. This era shows the region's transport network at a peak of complexity, with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway and Norfolk and Western Railway threading through gaps to connect industrial hubs like Waynesboro and Staunton.

High-altitude landmarks such as Spruce Knob and Reddish Knob mark the rugged borderlands with West Virginia, while the George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park preserve the high ground. Educational and military institutions are prominent, including Madison College in Harrisonburg and the Virginia Military Institute. The map captures the transition from the river-and-rail economy to the modern highway era, evidenced by the primary routes of U.S. Highway 11 and U.S. Highway 250.