1921 Map of Hanging Rock

About this map

North River Mountain and the winding Cacapon River define the topography of this corner of Hampshire and Mineral counties. The map records a dense network of one-room schoolhouses and rural meeting places, such as Dog Hill School, Shady Grove School, and Salem Church, many situated at isolated crossroads and along ridges. Small valley settlements like Springfield and Augusta serve as local hubs, while Millesons Mill and North River Mills highlight the importance of water-powered industry to the early 20th-century economy. Transportation is anchored by the historic Northwestern Turnpike crossing the south and the Baltimore and Ohio RR following the river bends in the north. The landscape is characterized by its recurring series of ridges, including Middle Ridge and South Branch Mountain, which dictated the winding paths of rural roads and the placement of family farms.