1938 Map of Butler

About this map

Butler stands at the confluence of Roan Creek and the Watauga River in this pre-reservoir survey conducted by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The map documents a landscape of mountain hollows and river bottomlands before the creation of Watauga Lake, featuring the original town site and the Watauga Academy. The area is densely settled with local institutions like Bradley Sch, Frog Pond Sch, and Mount Gilead church. Evidence of the valley's transport infrastructure is preserved through the route of the Southern RR and the Dugger Bridge. Numerous family-named landmarks such as Grindstaff Mountain and Grindstaff Cem provide essential data for genealogists tracing families in the northeastern corner of the state near the North Carolina border. The terrain transitions from the river levels to the high reaches of Pisgah Mountain and the Watauga National Forest.