Historical Geography and Contextual GIS:
Building a GIS for historical
Morgantown neighborhoods
Susan J. Bergeron, Trevor M. Harris,
Sophia Harris, and L. Jesse Rouse
Department of Geology and
Geography
West Virginia University
Introduction
• Historical landscape analysis
• Historical GIS
• South Park, Morgantown, West Virginia
• Wharf District, Morgantown, West
Virginia
Historical Landscape Analysis
• Holistic landscape interpretation
• Integration of environmental and cultural
information
• Recognition of context
Historical Data
• Maps, plan, drawings
• Photographs
• Text descriptions
• Census records, city directories, deeds,
etc.
1927 Sanborn Map
Morgantown, WV
Digitizing Historical Maps
Contextual Data
• Modern Environmental Data
DOQQs
DLG files for roads and rivers and streams
• Modern Boundary Data
National Register Historic Districts
• Multimedia
Modern photographs
South Park neighborhood
Morgantown, WV
Early development of South Park
•First planned neighborhood in
Morgantown
•J. W. Wiles, prominent citizen and
financier
•Envisioned as exclusive, upscale
community for Morgantown’s new
elite middle class
South Park Historical GIS
• Spatial context for historical landscape of
South Park
• Synthesize historical and current
information about South Park
• Integrate qualitative information including
historical and modern photographs,
census and city directory records, and
historic district and other political
boundaries
Linking Data in the GIS Environment
Integrating Multimedia
Using the South Park Historical GIS
• Historical landscape analysis
– continuity and change in South Park
• Urban geography
– issues of community identity
Wharf District, Morgantown, WV
Wharf District Historical GIS
• Historical Geography of South
Morgantown
Focus on changes in landscape
• Urban Geography
Impact of economic and social change
Impact of ‘gentrification’ efforts
1904
Sanborn Map
Historical
Maps
1927 Sanborn Map
Rapid Industrial and Commercial Growth
Mississippi Glass Company – early 20th century
Revitalization in the Wharf District
Wharf District Internet GIS