1923 Map of Marlinton

About this map

Marlinton serves as the focal point for this survey of the West Virginia highlands, where the Greenbrier River carves through a landscape of high ridges and narrow valleys. The 1920s economy of the region is clearly etched in the infrastructure, defined by the Chesapeake and Ohio RR following the riverbanks and a specialized Timber RR winding through the eastern slopes of Huntersville Mountain. The map reveals a high density of rural institutions, such as Riverside School and Marvin Chapel, serving decentralized communities like Hillsboro and Buckeye. Land use patterns vary from the rugged timber-heavy slopes to the more open Little Levels, where numerous family-named schools and post offices like Locust PO show the era's reliance on localized rural centers.