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1939 Map of Richwood

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Richwood
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

Richwood and Quinwood anchor a landscape defined by the heavy timber and mining industries of West Virginia's central highlands. This 1930s era topography shows the Chesapeake and Ohio RR winding through the steep river valleys, connecting coal camps like Marfrance, Crichton, and Leslie. The density of community institutions in this rugged terrain is notable, with numerous small educational and spiritual centers such as Mountain Chapel, Nunnery Chapel, and the Snow Hill School serving the remote ridge-top and valley populations.

Industrial reach extends into the Monongahela National Forest, where the confluence of the Cherry River and its forks drove the local economy. The map illustrates a transitional period for the Nicholas and Greenbrier border, where family-named landmarks like McClung Mountain and Pollock Knob overlook a patchwork of working towns and narrow hollows. Settled pockets at Hominy Falls and Fenwick highlight the reliance on local watercourses like the Gauley River before modern infrastructure fully bypassed these traditional mountain corridors.