1890 Map of Christiansburg

About this map

Christiansburg and the surrounding Blue Ridge highlands are captured here during a period of transition as the Norfolk and Western Railroad reshaped the mountain economy. The landscape is defined by its deep therapeutic mineral springs, including Montgomery White Sulphur Springs and Yellow Sulphur Springs, which served as major destinations during this era. The engineering of the Big Tunnel and the placement of stops like Vicar's Switch illustrate the heavy reliance on rail transport to navigate the steep ridges of Catawba Mountain and Brush Mountain. Numerous family-run operations, such as Mc Donald's Mill and Tice's Mill, dot the valleys of the Roanoke River and its forks. This survey provides a precise record of the Virginia-West Virginia boundary line as it follows the high crest of Potts Mountain through what was then a network of isolated rural post offices like Bradshaw P.O. and Dillons Mill P.O.