2016 Map of Bulls Gap

About this map

Bulls Gap serves as a central hub in this East Tennessee corridor, where the Norfolk Southern railroad intersects a landscape defined by the prominent Bays Mountain ridge. The map documents a dense network of family history markers, particularly numerous small burial grounds such as Guthrie Cem, Frank Berry Cem, and McBride Cem that dot the valleys and hillsides. The northern reach is shaped by the wide waters of Cherokee Lake and the Holston River, featuring distinct landmarks like Horseshoe Bend and Taylor Bluff. This 2016 survey illustrates the persistent rural character of settlements like Saint Clair, White Horn, and Otes, situated between the ridges of Nenny Ridge and Leading Ridge. The terrain is deeply partitioned by gaps and hollows, including Guthrie Gap and Jimtown Hollow, reflecting a historical geography where transport routes followed the natural breaks in the Appalachian folds.