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1896 Map of Hillsville

Name: 1896 Topographic Map of Hillsville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1911
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1911

About this map

Iron production and river navigation define this late 19th-century survey of the Blue Ridge plateau. The New River carves a deep path through the landscape, supporting a series of industrial sites including the Ivanhoe Furnace, Boom Furnace, and Radford Furnace. These industrial operations are supported by a network of river crossings such as Jackson Ferry and Blair Ferry, which were critical before widespread bridge construction in the region.

Around the county seat of Hillsville, the map reveals a rugged terrain of high knobs and deep gaps, including Fisher Peak and Mitchell Knob. Local economies are evidenced by scattered mills like Pedegos Mill and Spargers Mill, alongside specialized sites like the Lead Mines and the Carroll Sulphur Springs. The Norfolk and Western R.R. skirts the northern edge of the sheet, providing a vital rail link for the ores processed in the valley.