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1929 Map of Salem

Name: 1929 Topographic Map of Salem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1929
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1929

About this map

Salem anchors the southern portion of this landscape during the late 1920s, situated along the Roanoke River and the corridors of the Norfolk and Western and Virginian railroads. The map reveals a mountain-and-valley economy defined by the Catawba Valley, where the Catawba Sanatorium stands as a significant landmark. Small settlements like Abbott and Catawba are connected by the State Highway, while rural life is marked by numerous country schools and churches, such as Shiloh Ch and Oak Grove Sch.

Topography dominates the central and northern reaches, where Catawba Mountain and Brush Mountain divide the terrain. Notable geological features like McAfee Knob, Chimney Rock, and the curious label The Murder Hole indicate a land of significant relief. Industry and local history meet at Webb Mill and Bennett Springs, providing researchers with specific points of interest for tracing early 20th-century development and family lineages.