1958 Map of Saint Albans

About this map

The Kanawha River serves as the industrial and logistical spine of this region, winding past heavy industry and established river towns during a period of significant suburban growth. Commercial development and residential expansion are visible in the purple-tinted revisions around Saint Albans and Nitro, where the Chesapeake and Ohio and Penn Central railroads parallel the water. The landscape is a mix of dense valley settlements and the extraction economy of the uplands, evidenced by numerous Coal Strip Mines and a Quarry dotting the ridges near the Pocatalico River. Higher education and local history are anchored by the West Virginia State College campus at Institute, while the ancient heritage of the valley is marked by a lone Indian Mound near the riverbank. From the legacy of Raymond City to the mid-century expansion of Cross Lanes, this survey captures a valley in transition.