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2013 Map of Back Valley

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Back Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Thompson Mill stands along the winding Powell River in this Tennessee-Virginia border region, reflecting a landscape defined by its waterways and gaps. The area is characterized by numerous river crossings, including Snodgrass Ford, Fletcher Ford, and Baldwin Ford, which historically linked the communities of Sunnyside and Ramsey. The terrain is marked by distinctive features such as Short Mountain and Chestnut Ridge, which frame the agricultural and residential pockets of Back Valley.

Southern reaches of the map show the transition toward the Clinch River drainage, featuring the settlement of Evanston and the Cantwell Airport. The dense network of hollows—such as Blue Hollow, Bartley Hollow, and Parkey Hollow—indicates a long history of family-based land use in the narrow valleys. This survey provides a clear view of the rural infrastructure in the early 21st century, from the Mulberry Cr corridor to the intricate system of ridges and gaps like Gibson Gap and Keaton Gap.