Aerial Photographs of the Virginia Dept. of Transportation,, 1930/2015

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions

Preferred citation:

Aerial Photographs of the Virginia Dept. of Transportation, 1930-2015. Manuscripts and Special Collections - Visual Studies collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Creator:
Virginia. Dept. of Transportation.
Preferred citation:

Aerial Photographs of the Virginia Dept. of Transportation, 1930-2015. Manuscripts and Special Collections - Visual Studies collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Aerial photographs, 1930-2015, document road projects and corridor studies throughout the Commonwealth and include photographic prints, as well as aerial photo indexes, index maps, mosaic indexes, oblique indexes, overlay books, overlay books, topographic maps and vertical indexes.

The Dept. of Transportation divides the state into districts as follows:

Bristol District (District 1) includes: Counties - Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe; Cities: Bristol, and Norton.

Salem District (District 2) includes: Counties - Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, and Roanoke; Cities - Galax, Martinsville, Radford, Roanoke and Salem.

Lynchburg District (District 3) includes: Counties - Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax. Nelson, Pittsylvania and Prince Edward; Cities: Danville and Lynchburg.

Richmond District (District 4) includes: Counties - Amelia, Brunswick, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, New Kent, Nottoway, Powhatan and Prince George; Cities - Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond.

Suffolk District (District 5) [now Hampton Roads District] includes: Counties - Accomack, Greensville, Isle of Wight, James City, Northampton, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, and York; Cities - Chesapeake, Emporia, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg.

Fredericksburg District (District 6) includes: Counties - Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Westmoreland; Cities - Fredericksburg.

Culpeper District (District 7) includes: Counties - Albemarle, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock; Cities - Charlottesville.

Staunton District (District 8) includes: Counties - Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Clarke, Frederick, Highland, Page, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren; Cities - Buena Vista, Covington, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester.

Northern Virginia District (District 9) includes: Counties - Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William; Cities - Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.

Index maps, 1937-1953, are in chronological order, and alphabetical order by county thereunder.

Index maps - Miscellaneous cities, 1960-1965, are in alphabetical order.

Vertical Indexes, 1955-1969, are arranged by district. Vertical aerial photography captures images directly downward, perpendicular to the earth's surface, resembling a map view.

Oblique Indexes, undated, are arranged by district. Oblique aerial photography involves tilting the camera at an angle, allowing the horizon to be visible and providing a more perspective-based view.

These indexes include Mosaic Index File, Oblique Index File and Miscellaneous indexes.

Mosaics, 1966-1968, are arranged by district. Mosaics photographs are compound images created by stitching together a series of adjacent aerial photographs.

Aerial photo indexes, 1960-1980 c., are arranged by district.

Overlay books, 1980-2009 c., are arranged alphabetically by county.

Overlay maps, undated, are arranged by district.

Miscellaneous oversize includes miscellaneous maps, negatives, and a photo index.

Topographic mapping, undated, are housed in 2 oversize boxes and arranged by district.

Photographic prints, 1930-1939, are arranged alphabetically by county.

Photographic prints, 1950-1959, are arranged alphabetically by county.

Photographic prints - Districts, 1950-1998 (bulk 1958-1980), are arranged by district.

Photographic prints - Districts, 1966-2015, are arranged by district and chronologically thereunder.

Projects, 1955-2013, include aerial photographs related to specific road projects.

Miscellaneous counties, 1936-1955, include photographs for Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico.

Miscellaneous Districts, 1991-2006, are arranged by district and include photographs for Richmond District (District 4), Suffolk District (District 5), Fredericksburg District (District 6), Culpeper District (District 7), and Northern Virginia District (District 9).

Film negatives, 1930-1959, are arranged alphabetically by county.

Biographical / historical:

Within the Location and Design Division of the Virginia Dept. of Transportation, the Geospatial Program is responsible for providing statewide photogrammetry services, technical support on survey policies and procedures, and maintaining state of the art surveying equipment. The Photogrammetry section provides aerial mapping.

Acquisition information:
Accession 54544 was transferred by the Virginia Dept. of Transportation on 07/24/2025.
Processing information:

This collection has been minimally processed.

Please contact Manuscripts and Special Collections / Visual Studies to use this collection.

Physical description:
254 cubic feet; 13 v.; and 35 oversize map folders.