1937 Map of Narrows

About this map

The New River carves a dramatic path through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia, anchoring this 1937 study of the borderlands. This survey illustrates a landscape defined by steep ridges like Peters Mountain and East River Mountain, where narrow gaps provided the only feasible routes for infrastructure. The Norfolk and Western and Virginian railroads trace the river's winding banks, supporting local industry at Narrows and the historic Mercers Saltworks. Rural life is meticulously documented through a dense network of one-room schoolhouses, including the Butler School and McKenzie School, and remote houses of worship such as New Zion Church. From the ferry crossing at Shanklins Ferry to the engineering of the Males Gap Tunnel, the map reveals how geography dictated the settlement patterns of families in Peterstown, Ballard, and Willowton PO.