1942 Map of Clouds

About this map

Norris Reservoir and the Powell River define this 1941 landscape, where the Tennessee Valley Authority's influence meets the deeply established rural communities of Claiborne and Union counties. The terrain is characterized by a series of prominent ridges, including Killian Ridge and Wallen Ridge, with countless named hollows like Polecat Hollow and Hamlin Hollow sheltering small family farmsteads and local landmarks. This era shows a transition in local infrastructure, with traditional sites like Meyers Mill and Cupp Mill still noted alongside new reservation boundaries. Genealogists will find a wealth of local history in the numerous small burial grounds and schools scattered through the valleys, such as Ford Chapel Cem, Lily Grove Sch, and Locust Grove Sch. The intricate network of spring branches and creeks, including Straight Creek and Minton Creek, illustrates the traditional water-dependent settlement patterns of this Appalachian region before modern development fully transformed the river valley.