1949 Map of Kempton

About this map

Backbone Mountain anchors this 1949 topographic study of the tri-border region where Maryland and West Virginia converge. This industrial landscape is defined by the winding course of the North Branch Potomac River and the high-elevation settlements that supported the region's extraction and rail economy. The historic Fairfax Stone marks a crucial corner in the boundary between the two states, signaling the headwaters of the Potomac. Near the mining community of Kempton, the Western Maryland railroad snakes through the terrain to connect remote outposts like Dobbin and Henry. The map also captures local civic infrastructure, such as the Red Oak Sch, set against the protected slopes of the Monongahela National Forest.