1902 Map of Raleigh

About this map

The New River carves a deep path through the coalfields of southern West Virginia in this 1894-95 survey. The river corridor serves as the primary artery for industrial growth, centered on the Chesapeake And Ohio Rr and a string of riverside settlements including Thurmond, Sewell, and Mc Kendree. Beyond the river gorge, the landscape transitions into the high ridges of Guyandot Mountain and Flat Top Mountain, where scattered upland communities like Shady Spring and Oak Hill were beginning to take shape. The map illustrates the early industrial character of the region, where manufacturing sites such as Spangler Factory stood alongside small mountain hamlets and family-named peaks like Lick Knob and Huff Knob. The intricate contour work by Hersey Munroe reveals the challenging topography that dictated the placement of every rail siding and mining camp.