1958 Map of Thornton

About this map

Baltimore and Ohio rail lines and the George Washington Highway converge near the industrial pocket of Thornton, where local resources supported a Clay Pit and Kilns. This 1958 survey captures a landscape defined by the winding Tygart Valley River and the then-established Tygart Lake State Park. The map reveals a dense network of rural religious and community life, with numerous small congregations such as Wesley Chapel, Bethany Ch, and Mt Pleasant Ch serving the surrounding hill country. High-elevation settlements like Knottsville and Millertown are documented alongside family-named landmarks like Siggens Hollow and Rocky Branch. The inclusion of a Drive-in Theater and the Knottsville Sch highlights the social fabric of Taylor County during the mid-twentieth century, while extractive industries are noted through various mines and a Strip Mine in the northern reaches.