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1938 Map of Cowrock

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Cowrock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

The high ridgelines of the Blue Ridge dominate this topographic study, where the borders of White, Union, and Lumpkin counties converge within the Chattahoochee National Forest. This 1930s survey captures a wilderness landscape defined by traditional mountain gaps and high peaks, notably the 3,852-foot Cowrock Mtn. Human presence is marked primarily by early recreational and transit routes, including the Appalachian Trail as it winds across Tesnatee Gap and Hogpen Gap.

The map reveals a series of localized landmarks like Wolfpen Stamp and Whiteoak Stamp, terms indicating traditional livestock gathering spots in the high country. Water sources such as Stewart Spring and the headwaters of Hatchet Creek are meticulously charted among the steep contours. This survey, published by the Tennessee Valley Authority and USGS, utilizes 1937 aerial photography to document the era's transition from local mountain trails like the Poor Mtn Trail to formalized forest management.