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1957 Map of Petroleum

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Petroleum
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Baltimore and Ohio railroad corridor anchors this survey of a rugged pocket of West Virginia where Wood, Wirt, and Ritchie counties meet. The landscape is defined by the early industrial history of the state, visible through the numerous Oil Wells and Gas Wells scattered among the steep ridges and narrow runs. Settlements like Volcano and Petroleum reflect the era's extraction-based economy, while rural community life is evidenced by institutions such as Progress Ridge Sch and several country churches, including Mt Zion Ch and Mt Carmel Ch.

The winding Hughes River carves through the southern portion of the map near Cisco and Freeport, providing a natural boundary in a terrain dominated by local landmarks like Buzzard Rocks. For genealogists, the map is a primary source for locating family burials at sites such as Pleasant Valley Cem, Cooley Cem, and Johnson Cem. The inclusion of Camp Ko-Otaga on a bend of the river highlights the area's transition into recreational use by the mid-20th century.