Loading map...

1948 Map of Back Valley

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Back Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

The Powell River meanders across the state line between Virginia and Tennessee, carving through a landscape defined by prominent ridges like Powell Mountain and Newman Ridge. This 1940s topography captures a rural society organized around river crossings and steep mountain gaps. Settlements such as Evanston and Bodine are connected by a network of fords, including Fletcher Ford and Baldwin Ford, which remained essential for local transit before widespread bridging.

Community life is anchored by numerous country churches and schools, such as Thomas Chapel and the Sunnyside Sch. The economy of the era is evident in local industry markers like Thompson Mill and Mathis Mill, as well as the naming of distinctive terrain features such as Slanting Misery and Rebel Hollow. Genealogists may find value in the specific locations of family-named landmarks like the Wolfenbarger Cem and Seal Mathis Sch, which locate the historical footprint of these Appalachian families.