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1919 Map of Elk Garden

Name: 1919 Topographic Map of Elk Garden
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Backbone Mountain and the Allegheny Front dominate this region along the West Virginia and Maryland border, where the river-and-rail economy of the early twentieth century is on full display. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Western Maryland RR follow the winding course of the North Branch of the Potomac, connecting industrial hubs like Westernport and Piedmont. This rugged geography necessitated a dense network of mountain settlements and small schools to support the local workforce.

Genealogists will find a wealth of local landmarks, including the Potomac Manor estate and the Shallmar Dodson PO. Numerous rural institutions are documented, from the Mt Zion Church near Swanton to the Empire School and White Hall School. The map captures the settlement patterns of Elk Garden and Kitzmiller before mid-century changes, preserving the locations of specific family-named sites such as Howell and Gleason along the steep valley corridors.