1999 Map of Palo Alto

About this map

Palo Alto and the surrounding borderlands of Virginia and West Virginia are defined by the steep, parallel ridges of the central Appalachians. The South Fork Potomac River cuts through the northwest corner of the quadrangle, where early community life centered around local congregations like Crummett Ch and Wilfong Ch. Most of the landscape is dominated by the George Washington National Forest, covering prominent landforms including Hoover Mountain and Shenandoah Mountain. This topography dictated a settlement pattern confined to narrow hollows and valleys, such as Huffman Hollow and Varner Hollow, where small family holdings and cemeteries likely once lined the drainages. Numerous springs and runs, including Rock Lick Spring and Stony Run, provide the water sources for this high-elevation terrain, while several small dams like Dam No 18 indicate localized water management within the forest.