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1959 Map of Lead Mine

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Lead Mine
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Backbone Mountain divides this high-elevation landscape, where the headwaters of the Horseshoe Run and various mountain forks carved the terrain of the Monongahela National Forest. By the late 1950s, the southeastern corner of the map reveals a concentrated industrial and residential pocket along the Western Maryland railroad line. Here, the communities of Thomas, Coketon, and Douglas sit amidst numerous strip mines, reflecting the coal-driven economy of the era.

Rural life away from the mines centers on small settlements and landmarks such as the Lead Mine community and its namesake Lead Mine Ch. Further west, the Sugarland Sch and Mt Olive Ch serve the local population near the Preston and Tucker County line. The map also captures the Horseshoe Run YMCA Camp and a Radar Tower atop the ridge, showing how recreation and modern infrastructure were integrated into these West Virginia highlands.