{"product_id":"old-map-of-fayetteville-west-virginia-by-usgs-1969-new-river-gorge-u-s-route-19","title":"Old Map of Fayetteville, West Virginia by USGS, 1969 – New River Gorge \u0026 U.S. Route 19","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitled “Fayetteville,” this United States Geological Survey map presents the celebrated West Virginia town and its dramatic Appalachian setting as surveyed in 1969 and published with a 1977 imprint. At 1:24,000 scale, it belongs to the USGS tradition of highly legible quadrangle mapping, designed to translate complex terrain into a precise visual language of contour lines, symbols, roads, streams, and settlement patterns. Fayetteville appears not merely as a town, but as a gateway to a landscape of steep slopes, wooded ridges, and incised river valleys. The map captures a moment just before the New River Gorge gained wider national recognition as a protected and recreational landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cartography is classic USGS: disciplined, practical, and quietly elegant. Contour lines articulate the rise and fall of the terrain with remarkable clarity, revealing the rugged topographic character that defines this part of southern West Virginia. Color grading and conventional symbols distinguish forests, watercourses, transportation routes, built areas, and relief, allowing the viewer to read both natural form and human presence at a glance. The New River and its tributaries carve through the composition, their courses framed by hillsides and narrow valleys. For collectors, the appeal lies in the map’s combination of scientific precision and visual richness, where every road bend and contour interval contributes to a larger portrait of place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFayetteville’s historical identity is inseparable from the New River Gorge, one of the most striking river landscapes in the eastern United States. Long before its designation as a national park and preserve, the gorge was known for its dramatic geology, coalfield history, rail corridors, and difficult terrain. This map records the region during an important period of transition, when older patterns of extraction and rural settlement increasingly overlapped with conservation, tourism, and outdoor recreation. The surrounding hills, valleys, streams, and forested tracts shown here help explain why the area later became renowned for rock climbing, hiking, rafting, and scenic exploration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTransportation routes give the map an additional historical layer. U.S. Route 19 and other local roads trace practical passages through a challenging landscape, connecting Fayetteville with nearby communities and the broader region. New Haven, Summersville, smaller settlements, road junctions, and trails form a network of movement across the mountainous terrain. In a topographic map like this, infrastructure is never incidental: it reveals how people adapted to the constraints of ridges, hollows, river crossings, and steep gradients. The result is a vivid record of access and settlement, showing both the persistence of local communities and the logistical challenges posed by the Appalachian Plateau.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a document of land, water, and human activity, the “Fayetteville” quadrangle is especially compelling because it predates many of the area’s later associations with nationally recognized recreation and conservation. Its careful depiction of river systems, forested areas, parks, trails, and rugged landforms preserves a detailed view of the region at a pivotal moment. The map invites close study: each contour suggests a climb, each tributary a hidden hollow, each road a route through difficult country. For anyone drawn to West Virginia, Appalachian geography, or the evolving story of the New River Gorge, it offers a richly informative and atmospheric portrait of place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFayetteville\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew Haven\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSummersville\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eU.S. Route 19 and other highways and roads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious trails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSurrounding hills and valleys\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTributaries, streams, and other nearby river features\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForested areas and parks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecreational landmarks and outdoor activity areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical 1:24,000 topographical map of Fayetteville, West Virginia and the surrounding area\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDated 1969 with a 1977 imprint\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows rugged Appalachian terrain, including hills, river valleys, and the New River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses conventional USGS topographic symbols and color grading to show elevation changes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesigned for clear navigation, reference, environmental study, and land management\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects geographical and infrastructural changes in the Fayetteville area since publication\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnected to the wider history of conservation, development, and outdoor recreation in the New River Gorge region\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58830740783488,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_dd3f55ce-0c7b-46dc-b2aa-00bf13ed2b45.jpg?v=1788272537","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.co.uk\/products\/old-map-of-fayetteville-west-virginia-by-usgs-1969-new-river-gorge-u-s-route-19","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}