1938 Map of Glade Spring

About this map

Emory and Henry College stands as a central landmark in this 1938 survey of Washington and Smyth counties, situated just north of the Lee Highway. The landscape is defined by the parallel ridges of Walker Mountain and Rich Ridge, which dictate the path of the Norfolk and Western Railway as it services the established communities of Meadow View and Glade Spring. These rail-dependent settlements developed along the valley floor, while smaller hamlets like Clinchburg and Plasterco occupy the northern gaps near the North Fork Holston River. Numerous family-named burial grounds, including the Snodgrass Cem, Worley Cem, and McNew Cem, are scattered across the slopes, providing a detailed record of local genealogy. Rural life is further mapped through landmarks such as Smyth Chapel and the Morris Sch, illustrating the dispersed community structure of Southwest Virginia prior to the expansion of modern interstates.