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1940 Map of Alarka

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Alarka
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Little Tennessee River winds through the heart of this 1940 survey, carving a path through the Cowee Mountains and defining the boundary between Swain and Macon counties. The landscape is characterized by isolated valley settlements and a network of mountain gaps, such as Sally Gap and Low Gap, which served as vital passage points between ridges. Significant local infrastructure is noted by landmarks like Lost Bridge and Mc Coy Bridge, which provided essential crossings before modern road realignments.

Community life in the Nantahala National Forest region centered on small post offices like Etna and Wests Mill, alongside numerous rural institutions. Genealogists will find many family-named landmarks and burial grounds, including the Cochran Cem, Lakey Cem, and Brendle Cem. These small cemeteries, often situated near churches like Cochran Ch or Snow Hill Ch, reflect the deep-rooted family lineages that populated the remote coves of Burningtown and Alarka.