2019 Map of Atkins

About this map

Marion and Atkins anchor this portion of the Holston River valley, where the Middle Fork Holston River and the Norfolk Southern railroad dictate the corridor of travel. The landscape transitions from the urban edges of Marion to the dense woodland of the Jefferson National Forest. Deep in the southern valleys, older settlements like Sugar Grove, Slabtown, and Quebec remain connected by rural routes such as Lead Mine Rd, hinting at the area's industrial past. Numerous family burial sites, including the Keesling Cem and Ridgelawn Cem, are scattered across the terrain from Mitchell Valley to Rye Valley. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail winds through the central ridges, crossing over Brushy Mountain RD and through Long Hollow, providing a clear record of modern recreational infrastructure layered over a historical agricultural and mining landscape.