1941 Map of Black Mountain

About this map

The Tennessee Valley Divide snakes through this high-elevation terrain where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Black Mountains. The Southern Railway and primary roads follow the Swannanoa River through the Swannanoa Gap, anchoring the development of Black Mountain and Ridgecrest. This landscape is defined by institutional land use at the start of the 1940s, featuring the State Hospital, Mountain Orphanage, and the Fellowship Sanatorium. To the north, the religious and educational retreats of Montreat and the Blue Ridge YMCA Camp are established in the coves. The rugged topography is dotted with local landmarks like the High Windy Lookout Tower and remote mountain churches including Elizabeth Chapel and Wilkey Ch, providing a detailed view of these high-country communities before mid-century expansion.