1890 Map of Christiansburg

About this map

The Norfolk and Western Railroad snakes through the high mountain gaps of the Blue Ridge and Alleghenies in this 1890 record of the New River Valley and Roanoke region. The landscape is defined by the sharp parallel ridges of Catawba Mountain and Poor Mountain, which funnel settlement into narrow fertile valleys. This era shows the peak of the Virginia mineral springs resorts, with Montgomery White Sulphur Sprs., Yellow Sulphur Springs, and Craig Healing Springs serving as significant social and economic hubs. Industrial progress is evidenced by the Big Tunnel near Christiansburg and the concentrated growth in Salem along the Roanoke River. The map also captures numerous water-powered sites such as Mc Donalds Mill and Tice's Mill, alongside early post offices like Bradshaw P.O. that served the rural mountain gaps.