1969 Map of Mc Dowell

About this map

McDowell sits at the western edge of this Highland County landscape, where Bullpasture River and Crab Run meet beneath the heights of Bullpasture Mountain. The 1969 terrain is defined by the high, parallel ridges of the George Washington National Forest and the Shenandoah Mountain, creating a network of deep hollows and drafts. This survey captures a rural Appalachian environment where small settlements like Head Waters and Liberty are connected by winding roads and a mountain Jeep Trail. Notable local institutions include the Hiner Ch and the Columbia Union College Biological Station, while the Highland Wildlife Management Area occupies the southwest corner. The map traces the upper reaches of the Cowpasture River, revealing a remote mountain economy reliant on these narrow river valleys and the seasonal timber and wildlife resources of the surrounding peaks.