1908 Map of Winfield

About this map

The Kanawha River dictates the life and movement of this West Virginia landscape, winding through a series of significant navigational points including Lock No 10 and Lock No 8. Along its banks, the Kanawha and Michigan railroad provides a critical transportation corridor for river-adjacent communities such as Winfield, Buffalo, and the interestingly named Black Betsey. Away from the water, the terrain is defined by a dense network of ridges and narrow valleys where smaller settlements like Paradise and Confidence sit along the winding headwaters of Eighteenmile Creek. The map documents a period when river locks and small rail stops were the primary nodes of commerce, connecting the industrial activities at Redhouse Shoals and Plymouth to the wider region during the early twentieth century.