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1995 Map of Franklin

Name: 1995 Topographic Map of Franklin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1998
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1998

About this map

South Branch Potomac River carves a deep path through this section of Pendleton County, anchoring a landscape where agricultural river bottoms meet the steep, wooded ridges of the Monongahela National Forest. The town of Franklin serves as the focal point, situated at the confluence of several runs including Friends Run and Propst Run. The settlement pattern reflects the constraints of the terrain, with homes and community centers like Ruddle and Oak Grove clustered along the valley floors, while expansive protected lands like the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area dominate the western heights.

Local landmarks such as Reeds Creek Ch and Ruddle Ch provide specific points of interest for genealogists tracing family roots in the area. The map reveals the intricate network of drainage that has shaped human occupation here, from the aptly named Troublesome Valley in the southeast to the unique natural feature of Wilson Hole along the river's bend. Notable ridgelines including Town Mountain and Colc Mountain frame the horizon, illustrating the classic ridge-and-valley topography of the Alleghenies.