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1921 Map of Orkney Springs

Name: 1921 Topographic Map of Orkney Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1921
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1921

About this map

Lost City and Mathias serve as the primary hubs in this corner of Hardy County, where the settlement pattern follows the narrow valley of the Lost River. Surveyed in 1921, the landscape is densely populated with community landmarks, including a remarkable concentration of local education and religious sites like Shoemaker School, Straderman School, and Holly Hill Church. The terrain is defined by the massive ridges of Lost River Mountain and Shenandoah Mountain, which create natural barriers along the West Virginia and Virginia border.

Evidence of established family homesteads is scattered throughout the hollows, often identified by names like the Caldwell School or Halterman School. Along the western edge, the South Fork Potomac River cuts through the mountains near the Lumber R.R., reflecting the area's timber and river-driven economy before the modernization of the mid-20th century. This sheet is particularly valuable for genealogical research, capturing specific locations of churches like Jenkins Chapel and St Johns Church during a period of peak rural residency.