1960 Map of Celo

About this map

Pisgah National Forest dominates this mountain landscape at the dawn of the 1960s, where the South Toe River carves a path between the Pensacola Mountains and Sevenmile Ridge. Settlement is concentrated along the river valley, evidenced by local centers like Celo and Hamrick, and service points such as Ballew Store and the South Toe River Sch. The map reveals a deeply rooted community through numerous family-named landmarks, including Robinson Cem, Carroway Cem, and Patton Cem. Industrial and recreational use coexist here, from a Strip mine near Bailey Mountain to the Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area. Further south, the terrain rises sharply toward Maple Camp Bald and the Mt Mitchell Wildlife Management Area, while the Blue Ridge Parkway begins its high-altitude transit across the eastern ridges.