1956 Map of Chestnut Mountain

About this map

Pisgah National Forest defines the topography of this mid-century survey, where the convergence of Avery, Burke, and Caldwell counties occurs amidst a network of high ridges and narrow creek bottoms. The small settlement of Mortimer sits near the confluence of Wilson Creek and Thorps Creek in the northeast, while Kawana is tucked along Creek to the west. Evidence of forest management and local travel is visible through landmarks like the Lookout Tower on Chestnut Mtn and the passage through Licklog Gap. The landscape is etched with local history, from a secluded Cem near Kawana to the descriptively named Lettered Rock Ridge and Winding Stair Knob. These family-named peaks and watercourses, such as Bandy Cove Mtn and Gingercake Creek, reflect a persistent pattern of rural mountain life and land use that predates the modern era.