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2016 Map of Alarka

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Alarka
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Little Tennessee River winds through the southern portion of this region, serving as a primary geographic anchor for the communities of Oak Grove and Stiles. This 2016 survey illustrates the complex topography of the Cowee Mountains and the Alarka Mountains, where high peaks like Phillip Knob and Blackrock Knob overlook the deeply carved valleys of Alarka Cr and Matlock Cr. The settlement patterns here are defined by these watercourses, with small population centers and family-named landmarks positioned along the narrow bottomlands.

Genealogists will find a wealth of local-history detail in the numerous rural burial grounds, including Brendle Cem, Cochran Cem, and Lakey Cem. Large portions of the terrain are protected within the Nantahala National Forest, preserving the mountain character of the landscape near the Swain and Macon county line. Notable infrastructure includes the McCoy Bridge and various forest service routes like 7057, which provide access into the more remote high-elevation balds such as Davis Bald and Shepherd Bald.