1969 Map of Penola

About this map

The Mattaponi River meanders through this landscape in Caroline County, characterized by a network of swampy lowlands like Tanyard Swamp and Boot Swamp. This 1960s survey documents a rural topography where local commerce and community life centered on intersections and water power, evidenced by small settlements like Shumansville and the milling sites at Campbells Millpond and Reedy Millpond. The western edge of the quadrangle is defined by the critical transit corridor of the Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad, which served the community of Penola. Family-named landmarks such as Chenaults Shop, Doggetts Fork, and Kidds Fork offer specific geographical points for genealogists tracing local history, while several country churches, including Mt Hermon Ch and Holy Trinity Ch, mark the spiritual hubs of these scattered woodland and farming communities.