1935 Map of Colman

About this map

The Powell River dominates this 1935 landscape, carving deep loops through the terrain at Rowland Bend and Eastridge Bend. Surveyed during the Tennessee Valley Authority era, the map reveals a rural economy dependent on river crossings and small-scale industry, evidenced by Brooks Ferry and the Yeary Mill. The social fabric of these ridge-and-valley communities is remarkably detailed, showing a high density of local institutions such as Dunkard Ch, Smith Chapel, and a wide network of one-room schoolhouses like Big Spring Union Sch and Gibson Hall Sch. Significant topographical features like Wallen Ridge and Powell Mountain hem in the settlements, while early river crossings at Parkey Bridge and Buchanon Ford illustrate the essential transit points for residents of Claiborne and Hancock counties.