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1963 Map of Salem

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Salem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Salem serves as the industrial and educational heart of this early 1960s landscape, anchored by the campus of Roanoke College and the manufacturing corridor along the Norfolk and Western railway. The town's expansion is evident in the residential developments of Beverly Heights and Sunset Village, while the neighboring city of Roanoke begins to press against the eastern boundary near Edgewood. The valley floor is defined by the Roanoke River, which passes through a mix of heavy industry and civic landmarks like the Veterans Administration Hospital.

To the north, the terrain rises sharply into Brushy Mountain and the Havens State Game Refuge, where the Appalachian Trail follows the ridge of Catawba Mountain. This contrast between the dense urban grid of Salem and the high ridges of Lewis Mountain highlights the region's geographical constraints. Local leisure and social life are marked by sites like Lakeside Amusement Park and the Hidden Valley Country Club, reflecting the mid-century growth of the Roanoke Valley.