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1891 Map of Palmyra

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Palmyra
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1891
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1891

About this map

The James River and its confluence with the Rivanna River anchor this late-19th-century study of central Virginia, where water power and rail transit defined local industry. In the southern half of the map, the industrial character of the landscape is evident at the Arvonia Slate Quarry and numerous rural processing sites like Flanagans Mill, Trenton Mills, and Aldridges Mill. The Richmond and Alleghany Railroad follows the winding path of the James, connecting river towns such as Scottsville, Columbia, and Cartersville.

Upland from the major river valleys, the terrain is dotted with small crossroads and landmarks such as Boyds Tavern, Bells X Roads, and the county seat at Palmyra. The map illustrates the complex drainage patterns of the Piedmont, showing how smaller waterways like Cunningham Creek and Byrd Creek fed into the regional hubs. This document provides a clear look at the settlement patterns before the 20th-century expansion of the road network.