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1915 Map of Summersville

Name: 1915 Topographic Map of Summersville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Summersville and the surrounding Appalachian uplands are depicted here in a period of transition, following a 1913 survey that captured the isolated rural character of Nicholas and Clay counties. The landscape is defined by the winding Gauley River and prominent ridges like Powell Mountain and Duffy Ridge. Settlement is clustered around timber and mining outposts such as Swandale and Widen, while the interior remains a network of family-named hollows and small farms.

Evidence of a traditional rural infrastructure is found in the high density of country schools, including Ramsey School, Bell School, and Eberly School, which served the scattered populations of districts like Hamilton and Jefferson. Early transportation routes rely on landmarks like Brooks Bridge and Persinger Ford, reflecting a time before modern highway development when river crossings and gaps like Bonetown Gap were vital nodes for local travel.