1949 Map of Keyser

About this map

Knobly Mountain and New Creek Mountain dominate this landscape along the Potomac River corridor at the West Virginia-Maryland border. The topography is defined by sharp parallel ridges and deep hollows, such as Wildcat Hollow and Culvert Hollow, which dictated the early settlement patterns and transport routes of the mid-20th century. While Gerstell and Black Oak serve as small population centers, the map reveals a rugged backcountry where drainage systems like Abrams Creek and Staggs Run carve through the limestone-rich valleys. The 1974 revision layers, printed in purple, indicate infrastructure changes over a twenty-five-year period, reflecting the slow evolution of this Appalachian mountain region from its 1949 survey base.