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1942 Map of Enka

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

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

The industrial and agrarian landscape of western Buncombe County is centered on Enka Village and the massive facility near Enka Lake. Following the course of Hominy Creek, the Southern Railway serves as the economic spine of the region, connecting smaller communities like Candler Heights and Acton. The map reveals a high density of community landmarks, from the Pisgah Industrial Institute to numerous country churches like Zion Hill Ch and Snow Hill Ch, reflecting the social fabric of the 1940s.

Elevations rise sharply to the west and north, where the Pisgah National Forest begins. Mountainous terrain is dotted with family-named gaps and knobs such as Luther Knob and Spivey Mtn, alongside small settlements like Owltown and Jugtown. These labels, combined with the presence of a County Farm and a Lookout Tower, provide a detailed look at the infrastructure of the Blue Ridge foothills during this era.