1896 Map of Franklin

About this map

Franklin and the winding South Branch Potomac River anchor this late-19th-century reconnaissance, which charts a landscape defined by the parallel ridges of the Alleghenies. The map captures an era of isolated mountain settlements and early river-valley agriculture, long before modern highways bypassed these gaps. Key crossings like Kline Cross Roads and riverfront points like Upper Tract and Fort Seybert represent the vital hubs for local commerce and communication during this period. The survey also notes essential industrial landmarks like a Grist Mill near Riverton, serving as evidence of the localized economy that sustained these West Virginia and Virginia borderlands. From the heights of the Allegany Front to the resort-adjacent terrain of Rawley Springs, the map detail reveals a world of named knobs and gaps that shaped the movement of goods and people across Pendleton Co and its neighbors.