1935 Map of Big Ridge

About this map

The Tuckasegee River and its West Fork anchor this 1935 survey of Jackson County, where the Tennessee Valley Authority was actively documenting the water systems of the Blue Ridge. The landscape is a complex network of high peaks and ridges including Bell Coney Mtn, Glassy Rock Mtn, and Sheep Cliff Mtn. Local life is centered around the small settlement of Big Ridge, where the Big Ridge Ch stands near the Big Ridge itself. To the east, the Rock Bridge Sch serves the rural population near the Tuckasegee River. The map captures a moment when recreation and early infrastructure began to emerge in the high country, evidenced by Merrie Woode Camp near Fairfield Falls and a dam on the southern reaches of the river system. Township boundaries for River, Hamburg, Canada, Mountain, and Cashier's provide essential context for genealogical research.