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2019 Map of Black Mountain

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Black Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

The town of Black Mountain sits at a critical geographic junction where the Swannanoa River begins its descent toward the French Broad. This modern survey illustrates the complex human engineering required to traverse the Blue Ridge mountains, most notably at the Swannanoa Gap. Here, the Norfolk Southern railroad passes through the Swannanoa Tunnel, a historic engineering feat that connects the Atlantic-facing Piedmont to the Tennessee Valley drainage.

South of the town center and Lake Tomahawk, the terrain rises sharply into the Swannanoa Mountains, including peaks like High Top and High Windy. This area is characterized by numerous family-named coves and gaps, such as Lynch Cove and Cane Creek Gap. The survey also marks significant cultural landmarks including the Western Carolina State Veteran's Cem and the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cem, providing a detailed record of the community's burial grounds and religious sites.