1901 Map of Hancock

About this map

The Potomac River carves a winding path through this tri-state region, serving as the definitive border between Maryland and West Virginia. This 1899 survey illustrates a landscape where early industrial infrastructure and historical defensive sites meet. The presence of Fort Frederick on the Maryland side stands as a landmark of frontier history, while the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. run parallel to the river, marking the critical transportation corridors of the era. On the West Virginia side, the town of Berkeley Springs and the village of Sir Johns Run appear within the narrow valleys. The terrain is dominated by a series of parallel ridges including Sleepy Creek Mountain and Third Hill Mountain, which dictated the placement of early settlements like Hedgesville and small agricultural hubs such as Stotlers Crossroads. Local industry is evidenced by the Cement Factory near Hancock and several water-powered sites including Yeakle Mill.