1896 Map of Franklin

About this map

High peaks and deep river gaps define the landscape of Franklin and the surrounding Potomac Highlands during this late nineteenth-century survey. The terrain is dominated by the Alleghany Front and the massive spine of Spruce Mountain, which together funnel settlement into the narrow valleys of the North Fork Potomac River and South Fork Potomac River. These waterways served as the primary corridors for early commerce and travel, connecting small mountain hamlets like Upper Tract, Fort Seybert, and Riverton.