1946 Map of Cullowhee

About this map

Western Carolina Teachers College anchors the heart of this post-war Jackson County landscape, situated along a dramatic bend in the Tuckasegee River. The 1946 field examination by the Tennessee Valley Authority reveals a region defined by steep mountain ridges and fertile valley settlements. In the northern reaches, the Southern railroad follows the river through Dillsboro and Sylva, while more isolated communities like Speedwell and East Laport dot the eastern riverbanks. Genealogists will find a wealth of family-named sites, including Stillwell Cem, Rogers Cem, and Parris Cem. The map illustrates the era's institutional footprint through the County Farm near Webster and the presence of the Nantahala National Forest on the western slopes of Cullowhee Mountain.