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1942 Map of Cove Creek Gap

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Cove Creek Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Pisgah National Forest converge on this 1942 survey, revealing the remote communities and infrastructure of the North Carolina high country during the early war years. The landscape is defined by the steep ridges of Longarm Mountain and Whiteoak Mountain, where small mountain settlements like Ola, Cataloochee, and Nellie are connected by narrow tracks and State Route 284. This map documents a period of transition as traditional mountain life intersected with modern utility projects and federal land management.

Evidence of established local life is found at Palmer Chapel and the Beech Grove Sch in the south, while the Waterville Dam on the Pigeon River marks the industrial presence of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Numerous family burial grounds, including the Hannah Cem and Clark Cem, are scattered across the slopes. The presence of CCC Camp No 415 NCNP 22 highlights the Civilian Conservation Corps' role in developing the park's trails and facilities during this era.