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2022 Map of Back Valley

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of Back Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

The Powell River winds through this rugged section of the Clinch River basin, defining the borderlands between Hancock County, Tennessee, and Lee County, Virginia. The topography is dominated by parallel ridges including Newman Ridge, Powell Mtn, and Wallens Ridge, which create a series of isolated valleys and hollows. Small agricultural and residential clusters such as Sunnyside and Evanston are connected by a network of rural roads that follow the natural contours of the land.

Genealogists can trace local history through family-named sites like the Wolfenbarger Cem and Thompson Mill, or geographic features like Campbell Hollow and McCabe Hollow. The map detail includes specific landmarks such as McDowell Shoal and the high elevation of Fletcher Cliff, providing a precise look at the settlement patterns that have persisted in these Appalachian foothills. This modern survey preserves the locations of numerous gaps and hollows that have shaped the transit and community identity of the region for generations.