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1944 Map of Mc Dowell

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Mc Dowell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Mc Dowell serves as a central hub in this 1944 topographic survey, situated at the confluence of Bullpasture River and Crab Run. The landscape is dominated by the massive parallel ridges of Bullpasture Mountain and Shenandoah Mountain, creating a terrain of deep hollows and narrow valleys. This settlement pattern reflects the traditional Appalachian reliance on water gaps and river bottoms for agriculture and passage, as seen in the cluster of landmarks like Siron's Mill and McKendree Ch.

Highland and Augusta counties are shown during a period of remote rural stability, where one-room schoolhouses like Mt Hall Sch and Gammel Sch still served the mountain gaps. From Doe Hill in the north to West Augusta in the south, the map traces the intricate drainage systems of the Calfpasture River and South Fork South Branch Potomac River, illustrating the watershed divide between the Potomac and James river basins.