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1957 Map of Petroleum

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Petroleum
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Hughes River winds through the southern reaches of this Appalachian landscape, defining a topography shaped by deep runs and narrow ridges during the mid-20th century. This area, spanning the borders of Wood, Ritchie, and Wirt counties, is defined by its industrial and rail history. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad threads through the center of the sheet, passing through the Eaton Tunnel to serve settlements like Petroleum and Eaton.

Extensive networks of oil wells and gas wells are peppered throughout the hills, particularly around Volcano, signifying the region's long-standing connection to the energy industry. Local social life is anchored by country landmarks such as Progress Ridge Sch and Mt Zion Ch, while Camp Ko-Otaga sits prominently along a sharp bend in the river. This map provides a detailed view of a rural economy where transport by rail and extraction from the earth dictated the placement of schools, churches, and small communities like Freeport and Cisco.