Loading map...

1895 Map of Palmyra

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Palmyra
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1895
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1895

About this map

Palmyra and the winding Rivanna River anchor this late 19th-century study of central Virginia, where the river-and-rail economy of the James River valley is clearly visible. The Richmond and Alleghany Railroad follows the northern bank of the James, connecting river towns like Scottsville, Bremo, and Columbia. This landscape is defined by its water-powered industry and mineral extraction, evidenced by the Arvon Slate Quarry near New Canton and a network of rural mills including Flanagan Mill, Trenton Mills, and Aldridge Mill.

The map details an era of established crossroads and small settlements across several counties, from Blenheim in Albemarle to Hadensville in Goochland. Transportation is a mix of traditional water routes and the expanding rail lines, with the Hardware River and Willis River feeding into the central corridor. Notable landmarks such as Elk Hill and the river island of Bolling Id provide essential orientation for genealogists tracing family landholdings near Dianna Mills or Gilliamsville.