1908 Map of Winfield

About this map

The Kanawha River dictates the settlement pattern of this 1906 survey, with river-borne commerce and transportation shaping the development of the county seat at Winfield and smaller landings like Grimms Landing. The industrial footprint of the early 1900s is visible in the alignment of the Michigan and Kanawha R R following the riverbank, and the critical river engineering at Lock No 10 and Lock No 9. Away from the main waterway, the terrain transitions into the complex drainage systems of Eighteenmile Creek and the Pocatalico River. Local family names and small upland communities like Confidence, Paradise, and Black Betsey provide a detailed view of Putnam County before modern highway expansion. The presence of Teays Valley in the south highlights the ancient geological corridor that has long influenced movement through this part of West Virginia.