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1961 Map of West Portsmouth

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of West Portsmouth
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

West Portsmouth and the high ridges of the Shawnee State Forest dominate this early 1960s landscape, where the Scioto River and Brush Creek define the geography of western Scioto County. The map captures a moment when the rural character of communities like McDermott and Rushtown remained intact, anchored by institutions such as Township High Sch and the Dry Run Chapel. The deep incisions of Sheep Ranch Hollow and Noel Hollow illustrate the difficult terrain that separated the river valley farms from the forested uplands.

Historical traces of the region's ancient past and industrial growth are evident, from the Tremper Mound near the river to the extensive Quarries that drove the economy around McDermott. For researchers, the map provides precise locations for family landmarks, including the Mershon-Swords Cem and Kelly Cem, while the Norfolk and Western railway corridor tracks the industrial activity along the eastern bank, passing Book Siding and the residential expansion of Valley View.