2016 Map of Caney Creek

About this map

The Ocoee River snakes through this mountainous reach of the Cherokee National Forest, feeding the expansive Lake Ocoee and its prominent Sylco Inlet. The map documents a terrain defined by sharp ridges and gaps, including the Tennessee Valley Divide and the massive Chilhowee Mtn. Small pockets of human history are preserved in the numerous family burying grounds, such as Beckler Cem, Price Cem, and Old Fairview Cem, which sit atop the ridges or near the water's edge. The settlement at Sylco remains the primary point of reference in the southern portion of the quadrangle. An intriguing engineering feature, the Ocoee Flume, traces the northern bank of the river, following the contours of the land toward Caney Creek. This detailed 2016 survey captures the balance between the managed wilderness of the national forest and the deep-rooted local genealogy of Polk County.