1900 Map of Kanawha Falls

About this map

The Kanawha River and its confluence with the Gauley River and New River define the industrial and topographical heart of this West Virginia landscape. Near Kanawha Falls, the transition from the river-level settlements to the high ridges of Cotton Hill and Hawks Nest is starkly documented. The map captures a critical era of transport history, showing the Chesapeake and Ohio RR following the southern bank of the Kanawha while the Kanawha and Michigan RR traces the northern shore. Downstream, the infrastructure of the coal and timber industries is evident through river improvements like Lock 2 and Lock 3. The dense network of small communities such as Coalburg, Montgomery, and Cannelton reflects the era's reliance on river and rail proximity. To the north, the Elk River carves a winding path through territory including Clendenin and Queen Shoal, illustrating the broader reach of these waterway-dependent networks.