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2022 Map of Celo

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of Celo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

The South Toe River carves a deep valley through the high peaks of the Black Mountains in Yancey County. Small riverside communities such as Celo, Hamrick, and Busick serve as focal points for a landscape dominated by the Pisgah National Forest. The map is particularly rich in genealogical data, documenting numerous family-named burial sites including Gibbs Cem, Robinson Cem, and Grindstaff Cem. These small cemeteries are frequently positioned on elevated ground above the river's tributaries, such as Brown Cr and Whiteoak Cr.

The terrain is defined by dramatic ridgelines like Celo Ridge and Colbert Ridge, which provided the framework for early roads and modern trails. Transportation follows the valley floors, with routes like State Rd 1155 and State Rd 1167 connecting the scattered settlements. High-altitude points such as Celo Knob and Percys Peak overlook the narrow agricultural strips and homesteads that characterize the human geography of this part of western North Carolina.