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1923 Map of Orkney Springs

Name: 1923 Topographic Map of Orkney Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1923
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1923

About this map

Lost River carves a narrow valley through the high ridges of Hardy County during the early 1920s, anchoring a landscape defined by small mountain gaps and isolated homesteads. The settlement pattern follows the valley floor, connecting Lost City and Mathias via a network of rural schools such as the Bowman School and Shoemaker School. The eastern boundary is marked by the National Forest, while the western edge reveals industrial activity with the Lumber R.R. following the Moorefield River near Elkhorn Mtn.

Genealogists and local historians will find a high density of named landmarks, including family-linked features like Halterman Hollow and Caldwell Hollow. Spiritual life is well-documented through several country houses of worship, including Holly Hills Church and Jenkins Chapel. The map reveals a pre-modern Appalachian economy where topography dictated the placement of every mill and schoolhouse, such as the Mill Gap School tucked into its namesake mountain pass.