1897 Map of Kanawha Falls

About this map

The Kanawha River and Gauley River converge at the heart of this 1895 survey, a region defined by its narrow river valleys and the early expansion of the coal-carrying rail lines. Along the riverbanks, industrial settlements like Montgomery, Cedar Grove, and Cannelton are already established hubs, while the heights above are marked by prominent landmarks such as Hawks Nest and Mt. Desert. This era shows the river's vital role in transportation before modern highways, evidenced by the infrastructure of Lock 2 and Lock 3. To the north, the Elk River carves a winding path through the hills toward Clendenin, providing a stark contrast to the concentrated rail activity of the south. Researchers will find a network of named hollows and ridges, from Johnson Knob to Longs Ridge, documenting the late 19th-century landscape of West Virginia's coal and timber country.