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1959 Map of Roanoke

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Roanoke
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The Blue Ridge Mountains and the upper reaches of the James River define this regional landscape, where the ridges of the George Washington National Forest meet the rolling Piedmont. This mid-century survey captures a critical transportation corridor shaped by the Norfolk and Western and Chesapeake and Ohio railroads, which connect industrial hubs like Roanoke and Lynchburg to smaller mountain settlements such as Clifton Forge and Covington.

Moving eastward, the map transitions into the agricultural heartland of central Virginia, highlighting county seats like Amelia Court House and Buckingham. The prominence of the Appomattox River and the Staunton River underscores the historical importance of waterway-driven trade before the expansion of federal highways like U. S. 460 and U. S. 29. For researchers, the density of smaller rail stops like Huddleston and Bonsack reveals the intricate network of the tobacco and timber economies of the era.