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2014 Map of Paw Paw

Name: 2014 Topographic Map of Paw Paw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2014
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2014

About this map

The Potomac River carves dramatic, looping oxbows across this terrain, known as the Paw Paw Bends, where the borders of Maryland and West Virginia entwine. The engineering legacy of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is visible in every meander, marked by the famous Paw Paw Tunnel and a series of smaller bores including the Stickpile Tunnel, Graham Tunnel, and Kesler Tunnel. These structures allowed the canal and later rail interests to bypass the river's winding course, cutting directly through ridges like Bevan Hill.

Local genealogy is anchored by numerous small burial grounds and family landmarks, such as Woodrow Cem, Rine Cem, and the Sulphur Springs Cem near Keifers. Smaller settlements like Magnolia, Hansrote, and Little Orleans appear alongside the infrastructure of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, illustrating how a corridor once vital for coal and commerce has transitioned into a preserved landscape of recreation and heritage.