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1951 Map of Paw Paw

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Paw Paw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Paw Paw anchors this 1951 topographic study of the Potomac River's dramatic meanders along the border of West Virginia and Maryland. The landscape is defined by the sharp, looping bends of the Potomac River, including the distinct Bevan Bend, which historically challenged transportation engineers. The map documents a corridor of heavy transit infrastructure where the Western Maryland Railway and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad navigate the steep ridges of Green Ridge and Sideling Hill through an intricate system of tunnels and cuts.

Evidence of earlier transport eras is visible in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (Abandoned), winding alongside the river near settlements like Magnolia and Hansrote. Local life is recorded through family-named sites and rural institutions, such as Cherry Orchard Cem, Sulphur Springs Ch, and the Milo School near the Cacapon River. The presence of Niagara Falls (locally named) and the Lookout Tower on the heights reflect the area's geological and practical landmarks at mid-century.