1896 Map of Franklin

About this map

The South Branch Potomac River and its parallel forks dominate this late 19th-century landscape, carving deep valleys between the high ridges of the Allegany Front and North Fork Mountain. The settlement pattern follows these narrow river corridors, where communities like Franklin and Petersburg served as vital hubs for the surrounding mountain hollows. The presence of Harper Mill and Days Mills suggests a local economy deeply tied to water power and timber in these well-watered drainages.