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2019 Map of Parnassus

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Parnassus
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

Natural Chimneys stands as a prominent landmark in this section of the Shenandoah Valley, where the North River and Middle River carve through the limestone landscape. The area is defined by a dense network of small historic settlements, including Mount Solon, Moscow, and Parnassus, many of which developed along early watercourses and rural turnpikes. The terrain transitions from the broader Glade Valley toward the rising elevations of Castle Hill and the winding corridor of Possum Hollow.

Local history and genealogy are deeply embedded in the names of the roads and small communities found here. The boundary between Rockingham and Augusta counties cuts through the northern portion of the map, illustrating the jurisdictional divide in this agricultural region. From the clustered homes at Spring Hill to the crossing at Centerville, the map documents a stable rural pattern of land use centered on the fertile valley floors and the essential water resources provided by creeks like Mossy Creek and Long Glade Cr.