1965 Map of Orlando

About this map

The Little Kanawha River winds through the heart of the central West Virginia hills, marking a landscape defined by small valley settlements and an extensive network of hollows. This mid-1960s survey captures the region just before the waters of Salt Lick Lake would alter the terrain, with purple hatching indicating the future footprint of Burnsville Lake. Vital rural hubs like Orlando and Napier are documented alongside the winding Baltimore and Ohio railroad line. The map is particularly rich for local historians, recording numerous family-named landmarks and essential community institutions such as St Michaels Ch, Clover Fork Ch, and the Long Run Sch. Scores of small operations, labeled simply as Gas Well and Oil Well, dot the ridges, reflecting the long-standing extraction economy of Braxton and Lewis counties.