1977 Map of Salem

About this map

The Salem and Roanoke corridor is captured here during a period of significant mid-century expansion, where the urban landscape meets the dramatic slopes of Fort Lewis Mountain. This orthophotoquad, derived from 1977 aerial imagery, reveals the precise footprint of residential and industrial development along the Roanoke River. To the north, the terrain rises sharply toward Brushy Mountain, where smaller communities like Mason Cove and Bennett Springs occupy the valleys between ridges. The inclusion of landmark locations like Hanging Rock provides a clear perspective on how the regional transportation network and suburban neighborhoods such as Beverly Heights were integrated into the narrow river valley and surrounding foothills before the close of the 1970s.