Loading map...

1907 Map of Otter

Name: 1907 Topographic Map of Otter
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

Deep valleys and ridgeline knobs define this portion of central West Virginia during the first decade of the 1900s. The landscape is marked by a complex network of creeks and forks, such as Henry Fork and Sams Run, which dictated the placement of early settlements. Small communities are dispersed throughout the hills, including Newton, Tariff, and Linden, often situated at the confluence of mountain streams or along the lower elevations of the ridges.

Industry and transport are concentrated in the southern section where the Coal And Coke Ry snakes alongside the Elk River. The presence of Redhouse Siding indicates the vital role of the railroad in moving resources from these isolated hollows. Notable terrain landmarks like Desert Knob, King Rocks, and Pilot Knob served as essential navigational points for residents traveling between the established county boundaries of Roane, Calhoun, Clay, and Braxton.