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1937 Map of Narrows

Name: 1937 Topographic Map of Narrows
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1937
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1937

About this map

The New River carves a sharp, winding path through the borderlands of Virginia and West Virginia, cutting directly through the massive ridge of Peters Mtn at the prominent gap near Narrows. This terrain dictates the industrial and transport layout of the 1930s, as the Norfolk and Western RR and the Virginian Ry flank the riverbanks, maneuvering through engineering feats like the Hales Gap Tunnel. The landscape is densely marked with family-named landmarks and rural infrastructure, including dozens of country schools like Scratchgravel School and Mudhole School.

Away from the river corridor, the map reveals a network of upland settlements and hollows. Local commerce and community life center on places like Peterstown, Oakvale, and the small Willowton PO. The inclusion of Shanklins Ferry and the Saltworks near Lick Creek points to the area's older economic roots, while the numerous mountain gaps like Shumate Gap and Honaker Gap provide the primary passages between the isolated valleys of Wilburn Valley and the East River district.