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1965 Map of Martinsville West

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Martinsville West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Smith River snakes through the heart of Henry County, anchoring a landscape defined by mid-century industrial and residential growth. This mid-1960s survey documents the corridor between Stanleytown and Martinsville, where the Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway lines trace the riverbanks. The textile and manufacturing heritage of the region is evident in the dense settlement patterns of Fieldale and Bassett Forks, alongside civic markers like the Fieldale-Collinsville High Sch and the Radio Tower (WHEE).

Away from the river, the map reveals a network of country churches and family-named landmarks that are vital for genealogical research. Communities such as Horse Pasture and Preston are identified by small clusters of buildings and local institutions like Rock Run Ch and Christian View Ch. The transition from the urbanized Martinsville City boundary to the wooded slopes of Dug Mtn and Chestnut Knob provides a clear view of the area's development during the peak of the post-war era.