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1956 Map of Charlottesville

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Charlottesville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Mountains dominate this mid-century portrait of Central Virginia and the Potomac Highlands. The valley floor is defined by the three forks of the Shenandoah River and the bustling corridor of Us 11, connecting key regional centers like Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro. To the east, the city of Charlottesville sits at the foot of the mountains, while the heights are preserved within Shenandoah National Park and the winding Skyline Drive.

West of the Shenandoah Valley, the terrain rises sharply into the Allegheny Mountains, featuring high points like Spruce Knob and Reddish Knob. This area is a dense network of national forest lands including Monongahela National Forest and George Washington National Forest. The map also traces the vital rail routes of the era, such as the Norfolk and Western RR and the Southern RR, which moved coal and timber through the mountain gaps.