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1957 Map of Peniel

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Peniel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Reedy Creek carves a path through the northern hills of this landscape, flanked by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad corridor. The mid-1950s terrain is marked by a network of narrow ridges and winding hollows, where small rural communities like Billings and Reedyville established roots near the water. Life in these West Virginia hills centered on the numerous country churches and schools that dot the map, including Mt Zion Ch and the Morning Star Sch.

A notable characteristic of this area during this era is the extensive infrastructure supporting local utility and industry, seen in the numerous gas wells and a prominent Pipeline cutting across the Curtis and Reedy districts. The map preserves the names of many family-owned landmarks, such as McCauley Run and several private cemeteries like Christie Cem and Beckley Cem, providing a detailed view of the 20th-century Appalachian countryside.