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1894 Map of Lexington

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Lexington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1914
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1914

About this map

The James River carves a deep path through this Central Virginia landscape, serving as a primary corridor for 19th-century transport and industry. The topography is dominated by parallel ridges like Little North Mtn. and Tobacco Row Mtn., which dictated the placement of early settlements and rail lines. Notable river crossings such as Echols Ferry (Glasgow) Balcony Falls and Rope Ferry (Snowden P.O.) illustrate the importance of water-bound commerce before the full dominance of the railroads.

Industry and local governance center on Lexington, with secondary hubs like Buena Vista and Buffalo Forge showing the development of manufacturing and processing along the mountain streams. For genealogists, the map preserves specific post office locations and small communities such as Loch Laird (Tilford P.O.) and Cornerstone Ch.. The presence of the Balto. and Ohio R.R. and the Va. Midland Div. marks the era's transition from river fords like Waughes Ford to an integrated rail network.