1994 Map of Black Mountain

About this map

Black Mountain and Ridgecrest serve as the primary gateways to this mountainous region of Buncombe and McDowell counties in the mid-1990s. The landscape is defined by the high elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Swannanoa Mountains, where the Southern Railway traverses the famous Swannanoa Tunnel at the gap. The presence of the Mountain Orphanage, State Hospital, and Fellowship Sanatorium indicates the area's long-standing role in healthcare and social services. Religious and community life is anchored by numerous small houses of worship, such as Curleys Chapel and Elizabeth Chapel, while the Strip Mine near Grovestone points to the local industrial activity. Much of the eastern and southern terrain is protected within the Pisgah National Forest, maintaining the wilderness character of the Broad River headwaters and peaks like High Windy.