1918 Map of Webster Springs

About this map

Webster Springs (Addison) sits at the confluence of the Elk River and the Back Fork Elk River, serving as a central hub in a landscape defined by dramatic ridges and deep river valleys. The 1915 survey reveals a remarkably dense network of rural education, with schoolhouses such as Mill Run School, Redoak School, and Kingsley School positioned to serve isolated valley communities. This settlement pattern reflects the challenges of West Virginia's central highlands, where movement followed the winding paths of the Gauley River and Williams River. The topography is dominated by massive landforms like Point Mountain and the Gauley Divide, which separate the various watersheds. In the southern portion of the map, the boundary between Webster and Pocahontas Counties traverses high ridges, including Turkey Mountain, illustrating how natural terrain dictated political boundaries in this timber-rich region.