Description
Virginia began building railroads in the 1830's. A gravity railroad was built in 1831 between the coal mines at Midlothianto Manchester.
The Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad was chartered in 1834.
The Richmond & Petersburg Railroad and the Louisa Railway were organized in 1836.
In 1850 the Louisa began building westward toward the mineral regions of the Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond. From then on the railroad was known as the Virginia Central. The line was highly fought over during the American Civil War.
This map was published in 1852 by W. Vaisz. It shows waterways, place names, county boundaries, and roads.
Included at the lower left is a list of counties bordering on the Virginia Central Railroad with their populations and distances.
