1950 Map of Peaks of Otter

About this map

Bedford sits at the eastern foot of the Blue Ridge, serving as a hub for the rail-and-valley economy of the mid-20th century. The Norfolk and Western Railway cuts through the center of the landscape, linking the county seat to smaller agricultural and transit communities like Thaxton, Irving, and Montvale. This era shows the early intersection of traditional rural life and modern transit, as the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail wind along the high ridges near Sharp Top Mtn and Flat Top Mtn, while older local industry is still evidenced by scattered sites like Penicks Mill and Joppa Mill. For genealogists and local historians, the sheet preserves the locations of numerous community anchors, including Thomas Chapel, Mt Olivet Sch & Cem, and the small Bufords Airport near the Botetourt County line.