2016 Map of Paw Paw

About this map

The Potomac River winds in deep, dramatic loops through the ridge-and-valley landscape of the Maryland and West Virginia border. This terrain necessitated the engineering marvels of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, where the C&O Canal Towpath follows the water's edge. Notable subterranean features like the Paw Paw Tunnel, Stickpile Tunnel, and Graham Tunnel illustrate the massive effort required to navigate the mountain bends. Settled areas like Paw Paw and Magnolia serve as anchors along the river, while smaller points like Hansrote and Keifers mark the historical rail and canal corridor. Numerous family and community burial sites, such as Sulphur Springs Cem, Bevans Cem, and Cherry Orchard Cem, are scattered across the ridges, providing valuable locations for genealogical research in this corridor between the Cacapon River and the Potomac.