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1960 Map of Curtistown

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Curtistown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Curtistown and the surrounding high country of the Cumberland Plateau are defined by sharp topographic relief and the intricate drainage basins of the Rocky River. This 1960s landscape, later updated with mid-1980s land-use data, illustrates a region where small mountain settlements like Chalybeate exist alongside early scientific and industrial footprints. The Cumberland Plateau Observatory stands on a ridge, while the southern reaches of the map show the visible impact of extractive industries through Strip Mines.

The complex system of gulches and hollows, including Dry Fork and Cave Hollow Creek, reveals a rugged drainage pattern typical of the Tennessee Highlands. Significant landmarks for local history include the Pleasant Hill Cem and the oddly named Little He Creek and Big He Creek. Of particular interest to military and local historians is the Old Target Area, indicating former government use of this remote terrain. Multiple county lines, including an indefinite boundary between Van Buren and Warren counties, underscore the historical complexity of land surveying in this deeply dissected environment.