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1998 Map of Oldtown

Name: 1998 Topographic Map of Oldtown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1999
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1999

About this map

The Potomac River carves a deep, winding path through this corner of the Appalachian landscape, where the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the B & O Railroad converge at the settlement of Oldtown. This map documents a critical transportation corridor at the Maryland and West Virginia border, showing the dense network of rails and river navigation that once powered the region's economy. The topography is dominated by the massive ridge lines of Warrior Mountain and Town Hill, which hem in the fertile valley flats of Town Creek.

Rural life is preserved in the placement of the Mount Olive Church and small crossroad communities like Pumpkin Center and Gerlock. The inclusion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park highlights the transition of this industrial artery into a preserved landscape of recreation and heritage. From the lookout towers on the heights to the Gaging Sta on the river, the map detail provides a clear look at the intersection of wild timberlands and river-bottom agriculture.