1979 Map of Westover

About this map

The James River dominates this 1979 orthophotograph, a specialized aerial survey that provides a clear view of the river's wide reaches and intricate shoreline in Charles City County. In this era, the landscape retains a strong agricultural character, with large cultivated fields surrounding the prominent riverfront estates at Westover and Berkeley. These historic plantations are centered among a network of tidal tributaries, including Herring Creek and Powell Creek. To the north, the inland terrain transitions toward the small settlements of Wayside and Barnetts, while newer residential development is visible at Beechwood Manor south of the river. The imagery, captured by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Soil Conservation Service, reveals the precise patterns of land use and forest cover, showing how timber and tillage have shaped the Virginia Tidewater over centuries of occupation.