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1939 Map of Chestoa

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Chestoa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Nolichucky River carves a deep path through the Unaka Mountains in this 1939 Tennessee Valley Authority survey, illustrating a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes and the infrastructure of the Clinchfield RR. Small mountain communities like Chestoa and Unaka Springs cluster near the riverbanks, while isolated schools such as Temple Hill Sch and Mountaindale Sch serve families in the surrounding gaps.

High-altitude landmarks including the Lookout Tower on Temple Hill and the winding path of the Appalachian Trail emphasize the area's transition into the Cherokee National Forest. From the cascades at Spivey Falls to the agricultural pockets at Cane Bottom, the map preserves a detailed record of late-Depression era settlement patterns and the timber-and-rail economy of Unicoi County before modern highway development changed the accessibility of these mountain coves.