1939 Map of Glade Spring

About this map

Emory and Henry College stands as a focal point in this southwestern Virginia landscape, situated between the Norfolk and Western railroad and the Lee Highway. This 1930s survey reveals a dense network of mountain gaps and valley settlements, where industrial sites like the quarry near Plasterco and the Golf Course at Saltville speak to a varied local economy. The terrain is defined by the parallel ridges of Walker Mountain and Little Mountain, forcing transit into corridors like McCall Gap and Smyth Gap. Numerous family-named landmarks, including the Snodgrass Cem, Worley Cem, and Broady Cem, provide significant genealogical data points for the area. The map captures a moment before modern interstate development, documenting the traditional footprint of communities such as Meadow View, Clinchburg, and Old Glade Spring in the heart of Rich Valley.