2016 Map of Celo

About this map

Celo and Busick anchor this survey of the high mountain reaches of Yancey and Mitchell Counties, where the South Toe River carves a central valley between the massif of the Black Mountains and Sevenmile Ridge. The landscape is defined by the high elevations of Percys Peak and the Celo Ridge, yet the map records a high density of small family-named cemeteries such as Gibbs Cem, Patton Cem, and Westall Cem, suggesting a long-standing pattern of kinship and settlement in the narrow coves. Transportation routes like the Blue Ridge Parkway wind through the southeastern portion, intersecting the Tennessee Valley Divide and passing landmarks like Buck Creek. The inclusion of Pollard Mine Rd and industrial features like Twin Tunnel North reflects the region's intersection of natural preservation within the Pisgah National Forest and the infrastructure required to traverse this complex terrain.