1897 Map of Raleigh

About this map

The New River carves a deep path through the plateau of the southern West Virginia coalfields in this late nineteenth-century survey. The landscape is defined by the steep gorge of the New River and its major tributaries like Piney Creek and Glade Creek, where the Chesapeake and Ohio R. R. follows the narrow riverbanks to serve burgeoning mining and rail hubs. Industrial activity is centered on riverside settlements such as Thurmond, Glenjean, and Mount Hope, which contrast with the high-elevation isolation of Marshes P.O. and the seat of Beckley. Along the sharp bends of the river, landmarks like Stretcher Neck and Grand View highlight the dramatic relief of the Garden Ground Mt. and Flat Top Mountain, illustrating the difficult terrain that governed early Appalachian transportation and settlement patterns.