1925 Map of Kingwood

About this map

The Cheat River carves a winding path through this corner of West Virginia, defining a landscape of sharp ridges and narrow bottoms in the 1920s. Centered around the county seat of Kingwood, the map details a region where transport was dictated by the river and the demanding geography of Briery Mountain. The Baltimore and Ohio RR snakes alongside the river and through critical junctions like Rowlesburg and Tunnelton, while historic routes like the Northwestern Virginia Turnpike and Morgantown Turnpike provide overland connections. Rural life is meticulously documented through a high density of country schools and churches, such as the Sister School and Snider Church, reflecting the decentralized settlement patterns of the era. The presence of Lake Terra Alta and the nearby Hopemont sanitarium near the Maryland border highlights the area's development beyond its agricultural and timber roots.