2014 Map of Bowdens Pond

About this map

Happy Valley and the surrounding rural communities of Autney and Hadden define the landscape at the junction of McDuffie, Warren, and Jefferson counties. This area is characterized by a dense network of family and community history, evidenced by numerous small burying grounds including the Barksdale-Story Bradshaw Cem, Jones Grove Cem, and Mt Aldred Cem. The local industry is anchored by the Kaolin Mines Lake, a clear marker of the region’s geological wealth and mining heritage. The terrain is drained by Brier Creek and its many tributaries, while the topography rises toward Little Brasstown Gap. This survey documents a quiet rural pocket where small-scale farming and resource extraction have left a lasting imprint on the land, from the Huff Bridge to the complex of water bodies known as Bowdens Pond Number One and Bowdens Pond Number Two.